overshadow

verb

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

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 Suddenly, the pain of separation and uncertainty overshadowed any promise of a better life. Boutayna Chokrane, Rolling Stone, 21 Mar. 2024 Teacher hardships — our dedicated teachers and staff face uncertainty about their jobs and livelihoods, and their commitment to our students should not be overshadowed by financial constraints. Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2024 Coastal Southern California, which rarely sees lightning, witnessed several hundred bolts Monday from a string of unusual thunderstorms — a display not to be overshadowed by the day’s other overhead spectacle, the SpaceX rocket launch. Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2024 The former Silicon Valley giant has since split up, and has long been overshadowed by younger leviathans like Alphabet, Apple and Microsoft. Michael J. De La Merced, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2024 So, is her chaos overshadowing my obligation to shield my brother from a substantial financial burden? Jordan Greene, Peoplemag, 12 Mar. 2024 Jackson’s look accentuated her features and didn’t overshadow her natural beauty. Shelby Stewart, Essence, 12 Mar. 2024 The Great Michigan Fire, created by a series of forest fires in the state, and The Great Peshtigo Fire in Wisconsin, were overshadowed by the Chicago Fire, which burned three square miles of the city. Caitlin O'Kane, CBS News, 1 Mar. 2024 The former president overshadowed Wednesday's debate as the candidates sparred over who would be his best ally in the Senate. Haley Bemiller, The Enquirer, 7 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'overshadow.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near overshadow

Cite this Entry

“Overshadow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overshadow. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on overshadow

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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