"understate" meaning in English

See understate in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Verb

IPA: /ʌndəˈsteɪt/ Audio: LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-understate.wav Forms: understates [present, singular, third-person], understating [participle, present], understated [participle, past], understated [past]
Etymology: From under- + state. Etymology templates: {{prefix|en|under|state}} under- + state Head templates: {{en-verb}} understate (third-person singular simple present understates, present participle understating, simple past and past participle understated)
  1. (transitive) To state (something) with less completeness than needed; to minimise or downplay. Tags: transitive Translations (to state something with less completeness than needed): премълчавам (premǎlčavam) (Bulgarian), vähätellä (Finnish), untertreiben (German), 矮小化する (waishōka suru) (Japanese), niedomówić (Polish), niedookreślić (Polish), преуменьша́ть (preumenʹšátʹ) (Russian), занижать (zanižatʹ) (Russian), недооценивать (nedoocenivatʹ) (Russian), subestimar (Spanish)
    Sense id: en-understate-en-verb-DMnpcVyH Disambiguation of 'to state something with less completeness than needed': 57 21 22
  2. (transitive) To state (something) with a lack of emphasis, in order to express irony. Tags: transitive Synonyms (state with lack of emphasis): trivialize Translations (to state something with a lack of emphasis, in order to express irony): vähätellä (Finnish)
    Sense id: en-understate-en-verb-NTquwKlp Categories (other): English entries with incorrect language header, English terms prefixed with under-, Entries with translation boxes, Pages with 1 entry, Pages with entries, Terms with Bulgarian translations, Terms with Finnish translations, Terms with German translations, Terms with Japanese translations, Terms with Polish translations, Terms with Russian translations, Terms with Spanish translations Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 20 75 5 Disambiguation of English terms prefixed with under-: 22 58 20 Disambiguation of Entries with translation boxes: 11 82 7 Disambiguation of Pages with 1 entry: 12 79 8 Disambiguation of Pages with entries: 16 80 4 Disambiguation of Terms with Bulgarian translations: 14 78 8 Disambiguation of Terms with Finnish translations: 13 80 7 Disambiguation of Terms with German translations: 13 81 6 Disambiguation of Terms with Japanese translations: 11 82 6 Disambiguation of Terms with Polish translations: 16 73 11 Disambiguation of Terms with Russian translations: 13 80 7 Disambiguation of Terms with Spanish translations: 11 83 6 Disambiguation of 'state with lack of emphasis': 23 52 25 Disambiguation of 'to state something with a lack of emphasis, in order to express irony': 15 69 16
  3. To state a quantity that is too low. Translations (to state a quantity that is too low): омаловажавам (omalovažavam) (Bulgarian), ilmoittaa todellista pienemmäksi (Finnish)
    Sense id: en-understate-en-verb-A1DSMvBk Disambiguation of 'to state a quantity that is too low': 17 17 66
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated
Related terms: understated (english: restrained, unpretentious), understatement

Inflected forms

{
  "antonyms": [
    {
      "word": "overstate"
    },
    {
      "word": "exaggerate"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "under",
        "3": "state"
      },
      "expansion": "under- + state",
      "name": "prefix"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From under- + state.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "understates",
      "tags": [
        "present",
        "singular",
        "third-person"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "understating",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "present"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "understated",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "past"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "understated",
      "tags": [
        "past"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "understate (third-person singular simple present understates, present participle understating, simple past and past participle understated)",
      "name": "en-verb"
    }
  ],
  "hyphenation": [
    "un‧der‧state"
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "verb",
  "related": [
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "english": "restrained, unpretentious",
      "word": "understated"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "understatement"
    }
  ],
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "To call it a calculated bet understates the risk; it is a Hail Mary pass.",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To state (something) with less completeness than needed; to minimise or downplay."
      ],
      "id": "en-understate-en-verb-DMnpcVyH",
      "links": [
        [
          "state",
          "state"
        ],
        [
          "less",
          "less"
        ],
        [
          "completeness",
          "completeness"
        ],
        [
          "needed",
          "needed"
        ],
        [
          "minimise",
          "minimise"
        ],
        [
          "downplay",
          "downplay"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(transitive) To state (something) with less completeness than needed; to minimise or downplay."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "transitive"
      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "_dis1": "57 21 22",
          "code": "bg",
          "lang": "Bulgarian",
          "roman": "premǎlčavam",
          "sense": "to state something with less completeness than needed",
          "word": "премълчавам"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "57 21 22",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "to state something with less completeness than needed",
          "word": "vähätellä"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "57 21 22",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "to state something with less completeness than needed",
          "word": "untertreiben"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "57 21 22",
          "code": "ja",
          "lang": "Japanese",
          "roman": "waishōka suru",
          "sense": "to state something with less completeness than needed",
          "word": "矮小化する"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "57 21 22",
          "code": "pl",
          "lang": "Polish",
          "sense": "to state something with less completeness than needed",
          "word": "niedomówić"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "57 21 22",
          "code": "pl",
          "lang": "Polish",
          "sense": "to state something with less completeness than needed",
          "word": "niedookreślić"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "57 21 22",
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "preumenʹšátʹ",
          "sense": "to state something with less completeness than needed",
          "word": "преуменьша́ть"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "57 21 22",
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "zanižatʹ",
          "sense": "to state something with less completeness than needed",
          "word": "занижать"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "57 21 22",
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "nedoocenivatʹ",
          "sense": "to state something with less completeness than needed",
          "word": "недооценивать"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "57 21 22",
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "to state something with less completeness than needed",
          "word": "subestimar"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "20 75 5",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [
            "Entries with incorrect language header",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "22 58 20",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English terms prefixed with under-",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "11 82 7",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Entries with translation boxes",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "12 79 8",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with 1 entry",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "16 80 4",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with entries",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "14 78 8",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Bulgarian translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "13 80 7",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Finnish translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "13 81 6",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with German translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "11 82 6",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Japanese translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "16 73 11",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Polish translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "13 80 7",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Russian translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "11 83 6",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Spanish translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To state (something) with a lack of emphasis, in order to express irony."
      ],
      "id": "en-understate-en-verb-NTquwKlp",
      "links": [
        [
          "lack",
          "lack"
        ],
        [
          "emphasis",
          "emphasis"
        ],
        [
          "irony",
          "irony"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(transitive) To state (something) with a lack of emphasis, in order to express irony."
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "_dis1": "23 52 25",
          "sense": "state with lack of emphasis",
          "word": "trivialize"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "transitive"
      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "_dis1": "15 69 16",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "to state something with a lack of emphasis, in order to express irony",
          "word": "vähätellä"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "Coordinate term: underestimate"
        },
        {
          "text": "The company had been understating its liabilities for years.",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To state a quantity that is too low."
      ],
      "id": "en-understate-en-verb-A1DSMvBk",
      "links": [
        [
          "quantity",
          "quantity"
        ],
        [
          "low",
          "low"
        ]
      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "_dis1": "17 17 66",
          "code": "bg",
          "lang": "Bulgarian",
          "roman": "omalovažavam",
          "sense": "to state a quantity that is too low",
          "word": "омаловажавам"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "17 17 66",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "to state a quantity that is too low",
          "word": "ilmoittaa todellista pienemmäksi"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ʌndəˈsteɪt/"
    },
    {
      "audio": "LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-understate.wav",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/a/a0/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-understate.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-understate.wav.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/a/a0/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-understate.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-understate.wav.ogg"
    }
  ],
  "word": "understate"
}
{
  "antonyms": [
    {
      "word": "overstate"
    },
    {
      "word": "exaggerate"
    }
  ],
  "categories": [
    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English lemmas",
    "English terms prefixed with under-",
    "English verbs",
    "Entries with translation boxes",
    "Pages with 1 entry",
    "Pages with entries",
    "Terms with Bulgarian translations",
    "Terms with Finnish translations",
    "Terms with German translations",
    "Terms with Japanese translations",
    "Terms with Polish translations",
    "Terms with Russian translations",
    "Terms with Spanish translations"
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "under",
        "3": "state"
      },
      "expansion": "under- + state",
      "name": "prefix"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From under- + state.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "understates",
      "tags": [
        "present",
        "singular",
        "third-person"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "understating",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "present"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "understated",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "past"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "understated",
      "tags": [
        "past"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "understate (third-person singular simple present understates, present participle understating, simple past and past participle understated)",
      "name": "en-verb"
    }
  ],
  "hyphenation": [
    "un‧der‧state"
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "verb",
  "related": [
    {
      "english": "restrained, unpretentious",
      "word": "understated"
    },
    {
      "word": "understatement"
    }
  ],
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with usage examples",
        "English transitive verbs"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "To call it a calculated bet understates the risk; it is a Hail Mary pass.",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To state (something) with less completeness than needed; to minimise or downplay."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "state",
          "state"
        ],
        [
          "less",
          "less"
        ],
        [
          "completeness",
          "completeness"
        ],
        [
          "needed",
          "needed"
        ],
        [
          "minimise",
          "minimise"
        ],
        [
          "downplay",
          "downplay"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(transitive) To state (something) with less completeness than needed; to minimise or downplay."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "transitive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English transitive verbs"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To state (something) with a lack of emphasis, in order to express irony."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "lack",
          "lack"
        ],
        [
          "emphasis",
          "emphasis"
        ],
        [
          "irony",
          "irony"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(transitive) To state (something) with a lack of emphasis, in order to express irony."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "transitive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with usage examples"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "Coordinate term: underestimate"
        },
        {
          "text": "The company had been understating its liabilities for years.",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To state a quantity that is too low."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "quantity",
          "quantity"
        ],
        [
          "low",
          "low"
        ]
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ʌndəˈsteɪt/"
    },
    {
      "audio": "LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-understate.wav",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/a/a0/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-understate.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-understate.wav.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/a/a0/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-understate.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-understate.wav.ogg"
    }
  ],
  "synonyms": [
    {
      "sense": "state with lack of emphasis",
      "word": "trivialize"
    }
  ],
  "translations": [
    {
      "code": "bg",
      "lang": "Bulgarian",
      "roman": "premǎlčavam",
      "sense": "to state something with less completeness than needed",
      "word": "премълчавам"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "to state something with less completeness than needed",
      "word": "vähätellä"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "to state something with less completeness than needed",
      "word": "untertreiben"
    },
    {
      "code": "ja",
      "lang": "Japanese",
      "roman": "waishōka suru",
      "sense": "to state something with less completeness than needed",
      "word": "矮小化する"
    },
    {
      "code": "pl",
      "lang": "Polish",
      "sense": "to state something with less completeness than needed",
      "word": "niedomówić"
    },
    {
      "code": "pl",
      "lang": "Polish",
      "sense": "to state something with less completeness than needed",
      "word": "niedookreślić"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "preumenʹšátʹ",
      "sense": "to state something with less completeness than needed",
      "word": "преуменьша́ть"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "zanižatʹ",
      "sense": "to state something with less completeness than needed",
      "word": "занижать"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "nedoocenivatʹ",
      "sense": "to state something with less completeness than needed",
      "word": "недооценивать"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "to state something with less completeness than needed",
      "word": "subestimar"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "to state something with a lack of emphasis, in order to express irony",
      "word": "vähätellä"
    },
    {
      "code": "bg",
      "lang": "Bulgarian",
      "roman": "omalovažavam",
      "sense": "to state a quantity that is too low",
      "word": "омаловажавам"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "to state a quantity that is too low",
      "word": "ilmoittaa todellista pienemmäksi"
    }
  ],
  "word": "understate"
}

Download raw JSONL data for understate meaning in English (4.9kB)


This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2024-12-15 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2024-12-04 using wiktextract (8a39820 and 4401a4c). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.