overshadow

verb

over·​shad·​ow ˌō-vər-ˈsha-(ˌ)dō How to pronounce overshadow (audio)
overshadowed; overshadowing; overshadows

transitive verb

1
: to cast a shadow over
2
: to exceed in importance : outweigh

Examples of overshadow in a Sentence

The pitcher's outstanding performance should not overshadow the achievements of the rest of the team. large trees overshadow the yard and darken the house for much of the day
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The unwinding of the CFPB, however, was quickly overshadowed by another Vought victory. Andy Kroll, ProPublica, 18 Oct. 2025 The clash overshadowed the team’s celebrations. Luke Smith, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025 This plea cannot overshadow the systemic failures that enabled this abuse, nor the ongoing failure of the Sheriff's Department to bring this child home for a proper burial. Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025 Thanks to its flexible configurations, Alienware’s mid-tower Aurora isn’t entirely overshadowed by the company's flagship Area-51 model. PC Magazine, 16 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for overshadow

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of overshadow was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Overshadow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overshadow. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

overshadow

verb
over·​shad·​ow -ˈshad-ō How to pronounce overshadow (audio)
1
: to cast a shadow over : darken
2
: to become more important than : outweigh
the win overshadowed the player's injury

More from Merriam-Webster on overshadow

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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