overgraze

verb

over·​graze ˌō-vər-ˈgrāz 

overgrazed; overgrazing; overgrazes

transitive verb

: to allow animals to graze (an area, such as a pasture) to the point of damaging vegetational cover

Examples of overgraze in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

At Vermejo Park Ranch, purchased in the mid-1990s from Pennzoil and spanning more than 870 square miles near the New Mexico-Colorado border, Turner’s team has worked to restore mountainsides and valleys degraded by overgrazing, mining and clear-cutting. — Susan Montoya Bryan, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026

This rotation mimics the natural migration of wild bison and keeps the pastures from being overgrazed. — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Apr. 2026

Neighbors said the cows overgrazed and flies proliferated. — Idaho Statesman, 16 Apr. 2026

To prevent overgrazing, each Tristanian is allowed only a set number of animals, and when calves are born, older cows must be removed to keep the herd at a sustainable size. — NPR, 4 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1901, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for overgraze

• aldolase
• alleyways
• amylase
• anaphase
• anhydrase
• anyways
• arginase
• cabarets
• carriageways
• castaways
• catalase
• cellulase

Kids Definition

overgraze

verb

over·​graze ō-vər-ˈgrāz 

overgrazed; overgrazing

: to allow animals to graze (as a pasture) to the point of damaging the vegetation