overweight

1 of 3

noun

over·​weight ˈō-vər-ˌwāt How to pronounce overweight (audio)
sense 2 is usually
ˌō-vər-ˈwāt How to pronounce overweight (audio)
1
: weight over and above what is required or allowed
2
: excessive or burdensome weight

overweight

2 of 3

verb

over·​weight ˌō-vər-ˈwāt How to pronounce overweight (audio)
overweighted; overweighting; overweights

transitive verb

1
: to give too much weight or consideration to
2
: to weight excessively

overweight

3 of 3

adjective

over·​weight ˌō-vər-ˈwāt How to pronounce overweight (audio)
: exceeding expected, normal, or proper weight
especially : exceeding the bodily weight normal for one's age, height, and build

Examples of overweight in a Sentence

Adjective He looked to be at least 20 pounds overweight. an overweight person who had difficulty running even a short distance
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
According to FactSet, 77% rate the stock a buy or overweight; only one is at a sell. Christina Cheddar Berk, CNBC, 23 Dec. 2024 These areas may include, but are not limited to, certain sectors of equities, such as healthcare, information technology, consumer staples, financials, communication services and consumer discretionary, as well as bonds of different credit qualities, with an overweight towards investment grade. Kevin Mahn, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024
Verb
Character imbalances also explain the dysfunctional nature of many systems, whether organizations, sectors, or cultures, that have tended to overweight some character dimensions (e.g. drive) and underweight others (e.g. humanity). Mary Crossan, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024 JPMorgan upgrades Xcel Energy to overweight The firm said the utility company has room to run. Michael Bloom, CNBC, 12 Dec. 2024
Adjective
The bank listed the iPhone maker as one of its top picks heading into 2025 and reiterated its overweight rating alongside its $273 per share price target. Brian Evans, CNBC, 13 Dec. 2024 This advice applies to almost everyone, but for those who have obesity or are overweight—about three-quarters of the adult population in the U.S.—dieting and exercise are understood to be among the most important methods to improve their health. Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 9 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for overweight 

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1552, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1613, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1621, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of overweight was in 1552

Dictionary Entries Near overweight

Cite this Entry

“Overweight.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overweight. Accessed 28 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

overweight

1 of 2 noun
over·​weight ˈō-vər-ˌwāt How to pronounce overweight (audio)
 sense 2 is usually  ˌō-vər-ˈwāt
1
: weight above what is required or allowed
2
: excessive or burdensome weight

overweight

2 of 2 adjective
over·​weight ˌō-vər-ˈwāt How to pronounce overweight (audio)
: being more than the expected, normal, or proper weight
especially : having greater than normal bodily weight for one's age, height, and build

Medical Definition

overweight

adjective
over·​weight -ˈwāt How to pronounce overweight (audio)
: weighing in excess of the normal for one's age, height, and build
overweight adolescents
overweight adults typically have a body mass index of 25 to 29.9
overweight noun

More from Merriam-Webster on overweight

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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