overgrow

verb

over·​grow ˌō-vər-ˈgrō 

overgrew ˌō-vər-ˈgrü  ; overgrown ˌō-vər-ˈgrōn  ; overgrowing

transitive verb

1

: to grow over so as to cover with herbage

2

: to grow beyond or rise above : outgrow

intransitive verb

1

: to grow excessively

2

: to become grown over

overgrowth

ˈō-vər-ˌgrōth 

noun

Examples of overgrow in a Sentence

The weeds have overgrown the garden.

Recent Examples on the Web

Forests have become tinderboxes overgrown with trees, shrubs, and other fuels due to lack of maintenance and decades of fire suppression—to the point where 80 million acres are in need of restoration. —Joel Thayer, Newsweek, 27 Jan. 2025

Indeed, overgrowing mutant clones in mice have been seen to revert to normal growth, as Jones and a co-author describe in the 2023 Annual Review of Cancer Biology. —Amber Dance, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Jan. 2025

If your jade plant is overgrown, prune it back gradually—just one or two branches at a time—over several seasons to get it under control again. —Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Jan. 2025

Photos show a few of these stone ruins, partially overgrown by the rainforest. —Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 15 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Kids Definition

overgrow

verb

over·​grow ˌō-vər-ˈgrō 

overgrew -ˈgrü  ; overgrown -ˈgrōn  ; overgrowing

1

: to grow over so as to cover

2

: outgrow

3

: to grow too big

an overgrown puppy

4

: to become grown over

overgrowth

ˈō-vər-ˌgrōth 

noun

Medical Definition

overgrow

intransitive verb

over·​grow ˌō-vər-ˈgrō 

overgrew -ˈgrü  ; overgrown -ˈgrōn  ; overgrowing

: to grow or increase beyond the normal or natural size or numbers

when a scar overgrows into a keloid

—Morris Fishbein