underperformed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "underperformed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone or something has not met expected performance levels or standards. Example: "The team underperformed in the last quarter, leading to a review of their strategies."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The shares have underperformed the market by 6% in the last three months and now trade at a discount to the oil service peers.

The Guardian - Business

The film somewhat underperformed at the US box office, but made a respectable $708m worldwide.

The Guardian - Film

The other leading conservative, Rick Santorum, certainly underperformed post Iowa expectations.

The Guardian - Opinion

Indeed, oil and gas companies have significantly underperformed on the market as a whole over one year, three years, five, even 10 years.

The Guardian

Lab 37.2%, Con 33.3%, LD 16.9%, Ukip 7.7%, BNP 3.5% The Conservatives underperformed in the capital in 2010 and want to use their record on the economy – and the commitment by Labour and the Lib Dems to a mansion tax – to seduce voters back, particularly in the wealthier areas and suburbs.

The Guardian

Furthermore... the stock is the least expensive of its Engineering & Construction peers we cover, having underperformed in a falling sector by 14% since March.

The Guardian - Business

But the results also showed that Labour had underperformed against poll predictions, a result that will add to existing nervousness in the Labour party about the quality of Ed Miliband's leadership.

The Guardian

In football, there are few managers whose team has so consistently underperformed in the Champions League than Arsène Wenger, so I was keen to get his views.

The Guardian - Books

He has said that he underperformed in the 2012 race because of health problems stemming from back surgery.

The Guardian

Between 1974 and the end of 2000 the industry underperformed the overall European market by a shocking 914%.

The Economist

Funds of funds have underperformed single-manager hedge funds in eight of the past ten years, according to Hedge Fund Research.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "underperformed" to clearly indicate a failure to meet expected levels of performance, especially in business and financial contexts, to give your audience a good idea about the matter in question.

Common error

Avoid using "underperformed" without clearly defining what the subject is being compared to. Ambiguity can confuse the audience and weaken the impact of your statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "underperformed" primarily functions as a verb in the past tense. It describes an action where someone or something did not perform as well as expected or compared to a specific benchmark. Ludwig AI confirms its standard usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Formal & Business

14%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the term "underperformed" is a versatile verb used to express that something or someone did not meet expectations or performed worse than a benchmark. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and commonly used, particularly in news, business, and financial contexts. When using "underperformed", it's essential to specify the comparison benchmark to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives include "failed to meet expectations", "fell short of the mark", and "did not measure up". Remember to provide context when discussing underperformance to ensure clarity and impact. The frequency of the term, combined with its presence in authoritative sources like The Economist and The Guardian, highlights its relevance in professional and analytical discourse.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

failed to meet expectations

Indicates a failure to achieve the anticipated or required level of performance, similar to not performing well enough.

fell short of the mark

Implies a failure to reach a specific standard or target, suggesting a deficiency in performance.

did not measure up

Suggests a failure to reach a required standard, implying a lower quality of performance compared to expectations.

performed poorly

Directly states that the performance was not good, lacking efficiency or quality.

lagged behind

Indicates a slower or less effective performance compared to others or a standard, showing a lack of progress.

missed the target

Implies a failure to achieve a specific goal or objective, indicating a deviation from the intended outcome.

didn't live up to expectations

Highlights a failure to fulfill hopes or predictions, indicating a lower quality of performance than anticipated.

proved disappointing

Expresses that the performance was unsatisfactory and failed to meet hopes or expectations, causing dissatisfaction.

yielded subpar results

Indicates that the outcomes were below the expected or desired level, showing a deficiency in the performance.

lacked proficiency

Implies a deficiency in skill or competence, indicating that the performance was not efficient or effective.

FAQs

How can I use "underperformed" in a sentence?

You can use "underperformed" to describe a subject that has not met expected performance levels. For example, "The company "underperformed" compared to its competitors this quarter."

What can I say instead of "underperformed"?

Alternatives include "failed to meet expectations", "fell short of the mark", or "did not measure up", depending on the context.

Which is correct, "underperformed" or "did not perform well"?

Both are correct, but ""underperformed"" is often more concise and formal, particularly in business or financial contexts. "Did not perform well" is generally more informal.

What's the difference between "underperformed" and "outperformed"?

"Underperformed" means something did not meet expectations or performed worse than a benchmark, while "outperformed" means it exceeded expectations or performed better than a benchmark.