Overrate: meaning, definitions and examples

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overrate

[ˌoʊvərˈreɪt ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Verb}

evaluation

To overestimate the value or importance of something or someone.

Synonyms

exaggerate, inflate, overestimate.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
overrate	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.
overestimate	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.
exaggerate	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.
inflate	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.

Examples of usage

He tends to overrate his own abilities.
Don't overrate the impact of social media on society.

^{Context #2 | Verb}

evaluation

To give too high a rating or evaluation to something.

Synonyms

exaggerate, overestimate, overvalue.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
overrate	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.
overestimate	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.
overvalue	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.
exaggerate	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.

Examples of usage

The critics often overrate movies that lack substance.
It's easy to overrate the performance of a team based on one game.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word is formed by combining 'over', meaning too much, and 'rate', which means to judge or value something.
It started being used in the English language in the mid-19th century, reflecting opinions and valuations.
The prefix 'over-' often implies excess or exaggeration, showing a clear indicator of inflated opinions.

Psychology

Cognitive biases, such as the Dunning-Kruger effect, can cause individuals to overrate their abilities, leading to inflated self-assessments.
A phenomenon known as the 'bandwagon effect' often results in people overrating trends simply because they are popular.
Social media can amplify feelings of overstating worth as people curate idealized lives, influencing perceptions positively and negatively.

Pop Culture

In film reviews, critics often discuss overrated movies, referring to films that are highly praised but don’t meet audience expectations.
Songs or albums can be deemed overrated when they receive more acclaim than their perceived quality or substance warrants.
Social influencers may be seen as overrated when followers believe their influence doesn’t match their perceived popularity.

Literature

In literary discussions, works can sometimes be labeled overrated due to the immense hype that overshadows their actual merit.
Many authors throughout history, such as William Faulkner, faced criticism for being either overrated or underrated in their lifetime.
Book clubs often debate whether a classic novel is truly worthy of its acclaim or simply a product of its time.

Economics

In marketing, a product can be overrated if it is priced higher than its actual value or usefulness to consumers.
Investors may overrate stocks based on hype or trends rather than substantive analysis of their performance.
When bubbles occur in economies, assets can be overrated, leading to sudden financial downturns when reality sets in.

Translations

Translations of the word "overrate" in other languages:

🇵🇹 superestimar

🇮🇳 अधिक मूल्यांकन करना

🇩🇪 überschätzen

🇮🇩 menilai terlalu tinggi

🇺🇦 переоцінювати

🇵🇱 przeceniać

🇯🇵 過大評価する

🇫🇷 surestimer

🇪🇸 sobrevalorar

🇹🇷 abartmak

🇰🇷 과대평가하다

🇸🇦 يُبالِغ في التقدير

🇨🇿 přeceňovat

🇸🇰 preceniť

🇨🇳 高估

🇸🇮 preceniti

🇮🇸 ofmeta

🇰🇿 артық бағалау

🇬🇪 გადაფასება

🇦🇿 artıq dəyərləndirmək

🇲🇽 sobrevalorar

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #32,963 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.

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32960 gobbling
32961 humidifier
32962 overcharging
32963 overrate
32964 concertina
32965 reconnoiter
32966 unsentimental
...