Overrate: meaning, definitions and examples

Appropriate when discussing someone's opinion or rating of something that is higher than it deserves.

• Many people believe the movie is overrated; it wasn't as good as everyone said.
• She thinks her own work is overrated compared to her colleagues.

Best used when someone ends up giving more value, size, or importance to something than is accurate.

• I overestimated how much food we would need for the party.
• She tends to overestimate her abilities in sports.

Used when someone makes something seem bigger, more important, or worse than it actually is.

• He tends to exaggerate his achievements during job interviews.
• Don't exaggerate the problem; it's not that serious.

Commonly used in economic contexts, but also when discussing making something appear larger or more significant through artificial means.

• The company was accused of inflating its profits to attract more investors.
• He inflated the story to make it seem more impressive.

Use when someone or something is given more credit or perceived to have more value than they actually possess. Often used in a critical or negative context.

• Many people overrate that new restaurant; the food is actually quite mediocre.
• Just because a movie wins awards doesn't mean it isn't overrated.

Appropriate when someone predicts or thinks something is greater or more significant than it actually is. More neutral compared to 'overrate'.

• I overestimated how much time I would need to finish the project.
• We shouldn't overestimate our ability to control market trends.

Best used when assessing the monetary or emotional worth of something as higher than it truly is. Usually pertains to valuation rather than general opinion.

• Investors sometimes overvalue startups without considering the risks.
• Don't overvalue material possessions; true happiness comes from within.

Used when someone is amplifying details or making things seem more important or severe than they are. Can be either positive or negative, but often carries a sense of dramatization.

• He tends to exaggerate his stories to make them more interesting.
• Don't exaggerate the problem; it's not that bad.