underachiever

UK:*UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˌʌndərəˈtʃiːvər/US:USA pronunciation: respellingUSA pronunciation: respelling(un′dər ə chēvər)


WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025
un•der•a•chiev•er  (un′dər ə chēvər),USA pronunciation n. 
  1. Psychologya student who performs less well in school than would be expected on the basis of abilities indicated by intelligence and aptitude tests, etc.
  2. Educationa person or thing that performs below expectations.
  • under- + achiever 1945–50

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
un•der•a•chieve /ˌʌndərəˈtʃiv/USA pronunciation   v. [no object], -a•chieved, -a•chiev•ing. 
  1. Educationto perform below the possibility or potential that one possesses as shown by tests of one's mental ability.
  2. Educationto perform below expectations;
    achieve less than that which is expected.
un•der•a•chiev•er, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025
un•der•a•chieve  (un′dər ə chēv),USA pronunciation v.i., -a•chieved, -a•chiev•ing. 
  1. Educationto perform, esp. academically, below the potential indicated by tests of one's mental ability or aptitude.
  2. Educationto perform below expectations or achieve less than expected, esp. by others.
  • under- + achieve 1950–55
un′der•a•chievement, n. 


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