understate

UK: /ˌʌndə^rˈsteɪt/ US: /ˌʌndɚˈsteɪt/ ,(un′dər stāt′)

Inflections of 'understate' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

understates

v 3rd person singular

understating

v pres p

understated

v past

understated

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

un•der•state /ˌʌndɚˈsteɪt/   v. [~ + object] , -stat•ed, -stat•ing. 

1. to state or represent (some result, finding, etc.) less strongly or strikingly than the facts would indicate; make (something) seem less important than it really is:
   The report understates the magnitude of the disaster.

un•der•state•ment /ˌʌndɚˈsteɪtmənt, ˈʌndɚˌsteɪt-/  n. 

[countable] Claiming that the hurricane was inconvenient is an understatement.

See -stat-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

un•der•state  (un′dər stāt′), v.t., -stat•ed, -stat•ing. 

1. to state or represent less strongly or strikingly than the facts would bear out; set forth in restrained, moderate, or weak terms:
   The casualty lists understate the extent of the disaster.

• under- + state 1815–25

un•der•state•ment  (un′dər stāt′mənt, un′dər stāt′-) n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

understate / ˌʌndəˈsteɪt/ verb

1. to state (something) in restrained terms, often to obtain an ironic effect
2. to state that (something, such as a number) is less than it is