underperform

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "underperform" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone or something is not meeting expected standards or levels of performance. Example: "The team has consistently underperformed this quarter, leading to concerns about our overall productivity."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

These shares may be overpriced, so making underperformance more likely; but if the fund does underperform, it is a lot less embarrassing to meet sponsors with a fistful of Microsoft shares than with shares in unknown firms.Psychology may explain some losers.

The Economist

Credit Suisse has put an underperform rating on the shares, saying: The group reports first half numbers on 6 August.

The Guardian - Business

According to the ICM research, the voters themselves continue to think that Labour will underperform compared with the polls.

The Guardian

As such, we lower our target price to 175p (down from 235p) and reiterate our underperform rating.

The Guardian - Business

Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, Stand & Poor and others downgraded the company to "underperform" and "negative" ratings.

The Guardian

Among the mid-caps Pennon slid 27p to 699.5p yesterday after Credit Suisse cut its rating on the water and waste business from neutral to underperform.

The Guardian - Business

"We are constantly being told how our schools underperform and need to improve but I believe we have now got much better teachers; it is the buildings that aren't keeping up and we are not given the resources we need to do the job properly".

The Guardian

As a nation we underperform in maths.

The Guardian

The active tag also means that it is willing to dispose of investments that underperform or do not have the potential to add value.

The Economist

Investigators in Delhi hint that the players were paid indirectly to underperform by the Mumbai gangsters who control much of India's enormous illegal gambling industry (betting on cricket is against the law in India).

The Economist

Today, north-eastern Africa faces similar challenges.As with the Egyptian case decades ago, the Merowe dam in Sudan and the dams in Ethiopia are likely to underperform in power generation.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing financial investments, use "underperform" to specifically indicate that an investment's return is lower than a benchmark or expectation. For instance, "This fund is expected to underperform the market this year."

Common error

Avoid using "underperform" in contexts where simple failure is meant. "Underperform" implies a comparative measure against a standard or expectation, not just any failure.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "underperform" is as a verb. It describes the action of performing below a certain standard or expectation, often in comparison to others or a benchmark. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's commonly used and grammatically sound.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66.67%

Formal & Business

16.67%

Science

16.66%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "underperform" is a verb that means to achieve less than expected, particularly in financial contexts. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is considered grammatically correct and very common in usage. It is most frequently found in news and media sources, but also appears in formal business writing. When using "underperform", ensure that you're comparing it to a specific standard or expectation, rather than simply indicating failure. Common alternatives include "fail to meet expectations" and "perform below expectations". Be mindful of the context to ensure appropriate usage and meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fail to meet expectations

Emphasizes the failure to achieve what was anticipated or required.

perform below expectations

Directly indicates a level of performance that is lower than what was anticipated.

fall short

Suggests a failure to reach a required standard or target.

do poorly

A more general term indicating a lack of success or effectiveness.

perform inadequately

Highlights the insufficiency or inadequacy of the performance.

deliver substandard results

Focuses on the quality of the results being below the expected standard.

miss the mark

Indicates a failure to achieve the intended outcome or target.

flop

Informal term suggesting a complete failure or lack of success.

lag behind

Implies a slower pace or lower level of achievement compared to others.

not measure up

Suggests a failure to meet the required standard or expectations.

FAQs

How can I use "underperform" in a sentence?

You can use "underperform" to describe when something, especially a financial investment, doesn't meet expected standards. For example: "The stock is expected to underperform the market this quarter."

What are some alternatives to saying "underperform"?

Alternatives include "fail to meet expectations", "perform below expectations", or "fall short" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "underperform" or "perform poorly"?

"Underperform" is often used in financial or comparative contexts, while "perform poorly" is a more general term for not doing well. The choice depends on the specific situation and the level of formality required.

What does it mean when a stock is said to "underperform"?

When a stock is said to "underperform", it means its returns are lower than a benchmark index, such as the S&P 500, or lower than analysts' expectations. This often leads to a "sell" rating from analysts.