Overrate

/ˌoʊ.vərˈreɪt/

Meaning & Definition

verb
To assign a greater value or importance to something than it deserves.
Many critics overrate the impact of the film on modern cinema.
To have an overly high opinion of someone or something.
She tends to overrate her skills as a musician.
To judge something as being more significant than it actually is.
It's easy to overrate the influence of celebrity endorsements on consumer choices.

Etymology

The word 'overrate' is a combination of 'over' meaning excessively, and 'rate' meaning to evaluate or assess.

Common Phrases and Expressions

don't overrate yourself
Don’t assume you are better than you actually are.
overrate someone's abilities
To believe that someone is more capable than they truly are.
overrate the impact
To mistakenly perceive an event's influence as greater than it really is.

Related Words

underrate
To underestimate the value or importance of someone or something.
evaluate
To assess the value or significance of something.
appreciate
To recognize the full worth of someone or something.

Slang Meanings

Big talk
That movie was just big talk; they totally overrate it.
Hype job
Don't fall for the hype job, that game is really overrated.