underperform

verb

un·​der·​per·​form ˌən-dər-pər-ˈfȯrm How to pronounce underperform (audio)
-pə-ˈfȯrm
underperformed; underperforming; underperforms

transitive verb

: to do worse than
… it believes the company will underperform other relatives covered by the firm …Jim Milliot

intransitive verb

: to fail to do as well as expected
The stocks underperformed.
underperformance noun
underperformer noun

Examples of underperform in a Sentence

The report shows which schools are underperforming.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Restaurant and consumer staples stocks underperformed the market in 2025. Christina Cheddar Berk, CNBC, 1 Jan. 2026 The project underperformed at the box office, collecting $142 million globally. Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 30 Dec. 2025 And that’s important, especially as players age, because teams like the Dolphins seize on shaking down injured, or underperforming talent. Miami Herald, 26 Dec. 2025 Europe’s economic powerhouse is clearly underperforming in comparison with its G-7 peers. Sudha David-Wilp, Foreign Affairs, 23 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for underperform

Word History

First Known Use

1971, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of underperform was in 1971

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Cite this Entry

“Underperform.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/underperform. Accessed 2 Jan. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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