underdo

U1N1D2E1R1D2O1

verb

To do something insufficiently; especially, to undercook.

“Near-synonyms: underachieve, slack off”

Similar
half-assshortchangephone inunderachieveslack off
Opposite
overdoovercook
OriginMiddle English underdon ← Old English underdōn ← Proto-Germanic *under →
Scrabble 9
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Meanings

verbunderdo (third-person singular simple present underdoes, present participle underdoing, simple past underdid, past participle underdone)

present singular third person underdoes · participle present underdoing · past underdid · participle past underdone

  1. transitiveTo do something insufficiently; especially, to undercook.

    Sorry to say, I've underdone the pot roast. I think we'd better put it back in the oven for a bit.

    1 more example

    Sorry to say, I've underdone the downspout repair. I think we'd better hire someone to replace the whole thing.

    Antonyms: overdo, overcook

    1. transitiveTo do less than is requisite.

      Near-synonyms: (of tasks) half-ass, shortchange, phone in

      1 more example

      We warned him not to underdo it. This customer expects attention to detail.

      Synonyms: half-ass, shortchange, phone in · Antonyms: overdo, overcook

    2. intransitivetransitiveuncommonTo act below one's abilities; do less than one can.

      Near-synonyms: underachieve, slack off

      Synonyms: underachieve, slack off · Antonyms: overdo, overcook

  2. obsoletetransitiveTo put under, subject.

Synonyms & antonyms

verbTo do something insufficiently; especially, to undercook.

Opposite
overdoovercook

verbTo do less than is requisite.

Similar
half-assshortchangephone in
Opposite
overdoovercook

verbTo act below one's abilities; do less than one can.

Similar
underachieveslack off
Opposite
overdoovercook
Also see
half-ass

Origin

  1. Proto-Germanic*under
  2. Old Englishunderdōn“to put under”
  3. Middle Englishunderdon
  4. Englishunderdo

From Middle English underdon, from Old English underdōn (“to put under”), from Proto-Germanic *under + *dōną (“to put”). Equivalent to under- + do. Cognate with German unterthun (“to put under, subject”).

More words from Middle English, Old English, Proto-Germanic

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

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Cite this entry
APA

underdo. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/underdo

MLA

“underdo.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/underdo. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “underdo,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/underdo.

Source: underdo on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.