understate
UK/ʌndə'steɪt/US/.ʌndә'steit/
GREC2
Definitions
v.
To describe or present something as smaller or less important than it really is
轻描淡写；保守地陈述（低于实情）
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedunder-below, insufficiently
+
statestand, set, place
=understate
under- (too little) + state (to say) = to say less than the truth, to downplay. Opposite of overstate.
Common Collocations
- 1.greatly understate严重低估
- 2.tend to understate倾向于轻描淡写
- 3.understate the case保守陈述事实
Example Sentences
- 1.
He tends to understate his own achievements.
- 2.
To say the trip was tiring would be to understate it.