underwhelm
|un/der/whelm|
B2
🇺🇸
/ˌʌndərˈwɛlm/
🇬🇧
/ˌʌndəˈwɛlm/
fail to impress
Etymology
Etymology Information
'underwhelm' originates from English, specifically the prefix 'under-' meaning 'below' and the root 'whelm' meaning 'to engulf or submerge'.
Historical Evolution
'whelm' transformed into 'underwhelm' to express a lack of overwhelming effect.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'to submerge or engulf less than expected', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'to fail to impress'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Verb 1
to fail to impress or stimulate.
The movie underwhelmed the audience with its predictable plot.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:35