overgrow

verb

over·​grow ˌō-vər-ˈgrō 

overgrew ˌō-vər-ˈgrü  ; overgrown ˌō-vər-ˈgrōn  ; overgrowing

transitive verb

1

: to grow over so as to cover with herbage

2

: to grow beyond or rise above : outgrow

intransitive verb

1

: to grow excessively

2

: to become grown over

overgrowth

ˈō-vər-ˌgrōth 

noun

Examples of overgrow in a Sentence

The weeds have overgrown the garden.

Recent Examples on the Web

Dirty streets, graffiti, overgrown wild vegetation, theft and violent crime. —Chicago Tribune, 2 Sep. 2025

The maltmaker has never overgrown its modest footprint alongside its 19th century riverbank birthplace. —Brad Japhe, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025

The front lawn falls steeply away from the house and on down to the fence, a garden overgrown with reddening watsonias. —Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2025

In many other neighborhoods, vacant houses, overgrown lots and the lack of businesses remind people of a disaster that happened before many of them were born. —Marisa Peñaloza, NPR, 24 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Kids Definition

overgrow

verb

over·​grow ˌō-vər-ˈgrō 

overgrew -ˈgrü  ; overgrown -ˈgrōn  ; overgrowing

1

: to grow over so as to cover

2

: outgrow

3

: to grow too big

an overgrown puppy

4

: to become grown over

overgrowth

ˈō-vər-ˌgrōth 

noun

Medical Definition

overgrow

intransitive verb

over·​grow ˌō-vər-ˈgrō 

overgrew -ˈgrü  ; overgrown -ˈgrōn  ; overgrowing

: to grow or increase beyond the normal or natural size or numbers

when a scar overgrows into a keloid

—Morris Fishbein