overshadow

verb

over·​shad·​ow ˌō-vər-ˈsha-(ˌ)dō 

overshadowed; overshadowing; overshadows

transitive verb

1

: to cast a shadow over

2

: to exceed in importance : outweigh

Synonyms of overshadow

• obscure
• darken
• blur
• blacken

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

Brooklyn was left with another loss, and a finish that threatened to overshadow everything its young guards had done to make a win possible. — C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 27 Oct. 2026

Boeing shares tumbled Tuesday after the plane maker issued disappointing long-term guidance for free cash flow, overshadowing anything good in its third-quarter numbers. — Zev Fima, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2026

But heading into the midterms, that track record is at risk of being overshadowed by the war's toll on the economy — and by questions about what the Republican majority did, or didn't do, about it. — Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 27 Oct. 2026

The sub-bass content on this track takes the form of a bass line in the verse, and the headphones did a good job of producing it without overshadowing other aspects of the mix. — Christian De Looper, PC Magazine, 26 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

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

Rhymes for overshadow

• caddo
• foreshadow

Kids Definition

overshadow

verb

over·​shad·​ow -ˈshad-ō 

1

: to cast a shadow over : darken

2

: to become more important than : outweigh

the win overshadowed the player's injury