overdo

verb

over·​do ˌō-vər-ˈdü 

overdid ˌō-vər-ˈdid  ; overdone ˌō-vər-ˈdən  ; overdoing ˌō-vər-ˈdü-iŋ  ; overdoes ˌō-vər-ˈdəz 

transitive verb

1

a

: to do in excess

b

: to use to excess

c

: exaggerate

2

: to cook too long

3

: exhaust

intransitive verb

: to go to extremes

Synonyms

• exaggerate
• overdraw
• overstate
• put on

Examples of overdo in a Sentence

You should exercise every day, but don't overdo it.

The acting in that play was badly overdone.

Don't overdo the salt in this recipe.

The cook overdid the hamburgers.

Recent Examples on the Web

The always good Farahani has a lot of screaming and shouting to do, pulling it off convincingly but then overdoing it in too many scenes of the same thing. —Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 19 May 2025

One of the best ways to accomplish this (without overdoing it) is to think about driving your knees forward and up. —Jennifer Heimlich, SELF, 25 Apr. 2025

Strive to indulge once in a while without overdoing it. —Leigh Morgan, Quartz, 2 June 2025

McDonough added extra springs and air bags to handle the camper weight and a winch up front, but otherwise has stayed away from overdoing the build. —Jakob Schiller, Outside Online, 29 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Rhymes for overdo

• amadou
• avenue
• ballyhoo
• baraboo
• barbecue
• barbeque
• bugaboo
• cabildo
• caribou
• cockatoo
• detinue
• devalue

Kids Definition

overdo

verb

over·​do -ˈdü 

overdid -ˈdid  ; overdone -ˈdən  ; overdoing -ˈdü-iŋ 

1

: to do too much

overdoes it getting ready for a party

2

: exaggerate

overdo praise

3

: to cook too long

meat that is overdone