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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More producers bring more visitors, more market attention, and more awareness for a region long overshadowed by other important Greek PDO regions. Lauren Mowery, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026 The professional news has been somewhat overshadowed by that of his whirlwind engagement to Zoë Kravitz, to whom he was first linked in summer 2025. Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 29 June 2026 The chaotic conclusion nearly overshadowed what Gray had done earlier, striking out nine and shutting down the Yankees emphatically for 7 1/3 innings as Boston clung to a 2-0 advantage. ABC News, 28 June 2026 But more drops for AI stocks helped to overshadow them. Stan Choe, Chicago Tribune, 27 June 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Overshadow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overshadow. Accessed 3 Jul. 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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