overshadow

verb

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

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
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Every major opinion poll showed the longtime Democratic politician mired near the bottom of the pack, overshadowed by his flashier or wealthier rivals. Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026 The restaurant’s interiors, created by AB Concept, match the building’s energy but don’t try to overshadow it. Jim Dobson, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026 The match turned into something of a circus, overshadowing Naomi Osaka’s breakthrough triumph at a major. Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 1 June 2026 But the game was overshadowed by a pregame incident that resulted in three ejections before the first pitch was thrown. Chantz Martin Outkick, FOXNews.com, 31 May 2026 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

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Cite this Entry

“Overshadow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overshadow. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.

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

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