overdress
verb
over·dress
ˌō-vər-ˈdres 
overdressed; overdressing; overdresses
: to dress or adorn to excess
felt overdressed for the occasion in his tuxedo
: to dress oneself to excess
it's better to overdress for the party than be too casual
Examples of overdress in a Sentence
He overdressed for such a casual party.
Recent Examples on the Web
Southern women don’t strive to be subtle, because why not overdress, even to stay at home?
—
Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 9 Apr. 2026
Laurence’s salad was overdressed, even greasy, and the judges didn’t understand what the dehydrated pomegranate molasses had to do with it.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 7 Apr. 2026
Don’t overdress the salad; toss with about a third of the dressing, then add more as needed and serve the rest on the side.
—Rebecca Firkser, Bon Appetit Magazine, 25 Mar. 2026
The high standard Riley set is why the franchise’s current malaise is overdressed with angst.
—Greg Cote
february 25, Miami Herald, 25 Feb. 2026
The painter also appears to portray Henry as a childlike figure absurdly overdressed in regal finery.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 28 June 2025
But nothing kills a vibe faster than being overdressed at a dive bar—or underdressed at a swanky rooftop, for that matter.
—Ruhama Wolle, Glamour, 17 Mar. 2025
But there's some situations where showing up in a suit and tie would be overdressed.
—James Powel, USA TODAY, 4 Aug. 2024
The 42-year-old EGOT winner took to the ice with Lipinski’s help in a recent segment on The Jennifer Hudson Show, even if Hudson was a touch overdressed for the proceedings.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 1 Dec. 2023
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Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 9 Apr. 2026
Laurence’s salad was overdressed, even greasy, and the judges didn’t understand what the dehydrated pomegranate molasses had to do with it.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 7 Apr. 2026
Don’t overdress the salad; toss with about a third of the dressing, then add more as needed and serve the rest on the side.
—Rebecca Firkser, Bon Appetit Magazine, 25 Mar. 2026
The high standard Riley set is why the franchise’s current malaise is overdressed with angst.
—Greg Cote
february 25, Miami Herald, 25 Feb. 2026
The painter also appears to portray Henry as a childlike figure absurdly overdressed in regal finery.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 28 June 2025
But nothing kills a vibe faster than being overdressed at a dive bar—or underdressed at a swanky rooftop, for that matter.
—Ruhama Wolle, Glamour, 17 Mar. 2025
But there's some situations where showing up in a suit and tie would be overdressed.
—James Powel, USA TODAY, 4 Aug. 2024
The 42-year-old EGOT winner took to the ice with Lipinski’s help in a recent segment on The Jennifer Hudson Show, even if Hudson was a touch overdressed for the proceedings.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 1 Dec. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Overdress.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overdress. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
overdress
1 of 2 verb
over·dress
ˌō-vər-ˈdres
: to dress too formally or warmly for an occasion
overdress
2 of 2 noun
over·dress
ˈō-vər-ˌdres
: a dress worn over another
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