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underachieve meaning and examples

2025-09-06

Meaning

  • Underachieve (verb): To perform below one’s potential, expectations, or standard. It is commonly used in education, sports, and professional contexts.

Grammar and Usage

  • Part of speech: Verb
  • Verb type: Intransitive (does not take a direct object)
  • Forms: underachieves, underachieving, underachieved

Sentence patterns:

  • to underachieve at school/work
  • He tends to underachieve despite his talents

Common Phrases

  • underachieve at school
  • constantly underachieve
  • students who underachieve
  • talented but underachieving

Collocations

  • underachieve academically
  • underachieve in exams
  • underachieve in sports
  • underachieve despite potential

Examples

  1. Many students underachieve because they lack motivation.
  2. The team continued to underachieve, despite having star players.
  3. She tends to underachieve in subjects that don’t interest her.
  4. He is talented but constantly underachieves.
  5. Some employees underachieve when they don’t feel challenged.
  6. The company has been underachieving for several years compared to competitors.
  7. Children may underachieve if they don’t get proper support at home.
  • Underperform
  • Fall short
  • Not live up to expectations

Antonym

  • Overachieve
  • Excel
  • Outperform