1 (underestimate) [+rate, level, growth] subestimar these estimates understate the size of the problem estos pronósticos subestiman las dimensiones del problema
This understates the magnitude of the problem the official unemployment figure may considerably understate the actual level of unemployment Some manufacturers understate their production figures to avoid tax The government chooses deliberately to understate the increase in prices These estimates of real gross national product significantly understate the rate of economic growth it should be said that our example understates the savings 15-year loans offer
2 (underplay) quitar importancia a the authorities originally understated the disaster las autoridades inicialmente quitaron importancia al desastre; to describe it as a triumph is to understate the orchestra's achievement describirlo como un triunfo es no dar su merecida importancia a lo que ha logrado la orquesta
To say star-studded is to understate the glamour of the event he apparently understated Israeli feelings when he said he was disappointed by the American reaction it is always far more dramatic to understate things
