overvalue

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "overvalue" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe something that is valued too highly. For example, "The house was overvalued by the real estate agent, making it difficult to find a buyer."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

I have wondered in the past if we overvalue verbal talent, if this is what we should elect leaders for.

The Economist

So they overvalue the former and undervalue the latter.

The Economist

After recent corporate scandals, Congress may be less inclined to meddle, as it did in 1994 when politicians helped to block an earlier attempt to require the expensing of options.Still, there is a good argument that the Black-Scholes model may overvalue the cost of employee stock options, albeit by far less than the tech industry claims.

The Economist

"The whole Asquith family overvalue brains," wrote Margot.

The Economist

Outside China, however, some economists believe the official growth rate could be even more at odds with reality, because of such factors as a tendency to overvalue the stocks of unsold goods produced by state-owned factories or to underestimate inflation.

The Economist

"Fans overvalue a fighter's last fight," says Richard Dwyer, a lawyer in Silicon Valley and author of book on boxing betting.

The Economist

Much harder is managing the revenues, which threaten to overvalue Chad's currency and underwrite endemic corruption.The Bank's answer was two-fold.

The Economist

To slip money into a country, undervalue imports or overvalue exports; do the reverse to get it out.

The Economist

The other is that firms looking for talent tend to overvalue external candidates and undervalue internal ones.

The Economist

But Olga Tokarczuk was a young Warsaw psychology student in love, her heart skipping too quickly to dwell for long on tanks and ration-coupons".Poles tend to overvalue history.

The Economist

With a single contract covering 56 medical specialties uniformly, if you devalue or overvalue any aspect of doctors' time there can be an impact on workforce flows.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing financial assets, be specific about the metrics being "overvalued". For example, state that a stock's price-to-earnings ratio is "overvalued" compared to its growth rate.

Common error

While similar, "overvalue" typically applies to tangible or quantifiable items, while "overrate" can refer to more abstract qualities. Avoid using "overvalue" when "overrate" better captures the intended meaning, such as "overrating" someone's abilities.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "overvalue" is as a transitive verb. It signifies the act of assigning an excessively high value to something. Ludwig showcases this in various contexts, from financial assets to personal qualities.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Encyclopedias

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The verb "overvalue" signifies assigning an excessively high value to something. As Ludwig highlights, it's grammatically correct and commonly used across diverse contexts, including news, encyclopedias, and scientific discussions. Be mindful to use "overvalue" when discussing tangible assets and consider "overrate" for more abstract qualities. By understanding these nuances and considering the context, you can effectively use "overvalue" in your writing to convey precise meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

overestimate the importance of

Focuses specifically on importance rather than general value; emphasizes the cognitive aspect of estimation.

exaggerate the worth of

Implies a deliberate inflation of value, suggesting conscious exaggeration.

place too high a premium on

Suggests a focus on perceived benefits or advantages, often in a competitive context.

rate excessively

A more general term, applicable across various valuation contexts; less specific about the reason for high rating.

inflate the value of

Implies an artificial increase in value, often with negative connotations like deception.

magnify the significance of

Focuses on the perceived impact or consequence rather than monetary value.

think too highly of

Emphasizes subjective opinion and personal regard, rather than objective valuation.

esteem unduly

A more formal and less common alternative, suggesting excessive respect or admiration.

overrate significantly

Similar to "rate excessively" but emphasizes the magnitude of the overestimation.

set too much store by

Indicates placing excessive reliance or importance on something, often intangible.

FAQs

How can I use "overvalue" in a sentence?

You can use "overvalue" to describe assigning an excessive value to something. For example, "Investors often "overvalue" tech stocks during market booms".

What can I say instead of "overvalue"?

You can use alternatives like "overestimate the importance of", "exaggerate the worth of", or "place too high a premium on" depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "overvalue" or "undervalue"?

"Overvalue" and "undervalue" are both correct. "Overvalue" means to assign too high a value, while "undervalue" means to assign too low a value. They are antonyms.

What's the difference between "overvalue" and "overrate"?

"Overvalue" typically refers to assigning excessive monetary or material worth, while "overrate" refers to judging something as better than it actually is, often concerning qualities or skills. For example, you might ""overvalue"" a property, but "overrate" a movie.