overgrow
verb
over·grow
ˌō-vər-ˈgrō 
overgrew
ˌō-vər-ˈgrü
; overgrown
ˌō-vər-ˈgrōn
; overgrowing
; overgrown
ˌō-vər-ˈgrōn
; overgrowing
1
: to grow over so as to cover with herbage
2
: to grow beyond or rise above : outgrow
Examples of overgrow in a Sentence
The weeds have overgrown the garden.
Recent Examples on the Web
The neighborhood has tried to clean up some of the empty lots that are overgrown with weeds and filled with trash and wildlife.
—
Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Mar. 2024
The shoreline was overgrown with invasive bush honeysuckle, blocking river views and preventing natives from growing.
—Justin Wm. Moyer, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2024
The stately old buildings were chipped and faded or crumbling into the street, their courtyards and sidewalks overgrown and buckled.
—Chantha Nguon, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Feb. 2024
City of West Allis Attorney Kail Decker had sent a notice of nuisance to Burger King in May 2023, saying the property was overgrown with weeds, contained broken glass and had painted wood that was rotting underneath.
—Adrienne Davis, Journal Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2024
There were actually two coops and one very long run, which was overgrown with weeds.
—Martha McPhee, The New Yorker, 19 Aug. 2023
The park was another new one: Before the riverbed was cleaned and its banks strengthened, this place was neglected, overgrown with reeds.
—Haiane Avakian, The Atlantic, 27 Sep. 2023
At his house, Heuberger led me through a garden overgrown with lavender and brambles, and into a sparsely furnished living room, where a baby’s play mat was the only splash of color.
—Heidi Blake, The New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2023
Flamingo Estate High above Los Angeles on seven acres overgrown with citrus, wild herbs, and flowers, the fantastical Flamingo Estate produces soaps, candles, jams, and tinctures to delight the body and feed the soul.
—Krista Simmons, Sunset Magazine, 6 Oct. 2023
Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Mar. 2024
The shoreline was overgrown with invasive bush honeysuckle, blocking river views and preventing natives from growing.
—Justin Wm. Moyer, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2024
The stately old buildings were chipped and faded or crumbling into the street, their courtyards and sidewalks overgrown and buckled.
—Chantha Nguon, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Feb. 2024
City of West Allis Attorney Kail Decker had sent a notice of nuisance to Burger King in May 2023, saying the property was overgrown with weeds, contained broken glass and had painted wood that was rotting underneath.
—Adrienne Davis, Journal Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2024
There were actually two coops and one very long run, which was overgrown with weeds.
—Martha McPhee, The New Yorker, 19 Aug. 2023
The park was another new one: Before the riverbed was cleaned and its banks strengthened, this place was neglected, overgrown with reeds.
—Haiane Avakian, The Atlantic, 27 Sep. 2023
At his house, Heuberger led me through a garden overgrown with lavender and brambles, and into a sparsely furnished living room, where a baby’s play mat was the only splash of color.
—Heidi Blake, The New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2023
Flamingo Estate High above Los Angeles on seven acres overgrown with citrus, wild herbs, and flowers, the fantastical Flamingo Estate produces soaps, candles, jams, and tinctures to delight the body and feed the soul.
—Krista Simmons, Sunset Magazine, 6 Oct. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'overgrow.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of overgrow was
in the 14th century
Dictionary Entries Near overgrow
Cite this Entry
“Overgrow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overgrow. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
overgrow
verb
over·grow
ˌō-vər-ˈgrō
1
: to grow over so as to cover
2
: outgrow
3
: to grow too big
an overgrown puppy
4
: to become grown over
Medical Definition
overgrow
intransitive verb
over·grow
ˌō-vər-ˈgrō
: to grow or increase beyond the normal or natural size or numbers
when a scar overgrows into a keloid—Morris Fishbein
Morris Fishbein
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