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

Firstly because the last thing that England need this week is for this little moment to overshadow preparations for the small matter of a World Cup semi-final against a certain Lionel Messi and company. — Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 14 July 2026

To be sure, the surge in the size and number of monster deals could be overshadowing other money-raising efforts from smaller companies and investment by smaller funds, industry experts said. — Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026

Qualcomm, previously overshadowed in the AI surge, is now positioned for substantial growth as artificial intelligence transitions from data centers to edge devices. — Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026

But Mills, who would have become the oldest freshman Senator ever if elected at age 79, found her Senate bid overshadowed by Platner’s momentum, even as concerns about his vulnerabilities mounted. — Philip Elliott, Time, 9 July 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