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 In a world where fame often overshadows personal achievement, Taylor McFadden, Brandy Schultz, Barbaranne Wylde and Daniella Clarke demonstrate that sharing the limelight doesn’t mean dimming your star. Cheryl Robinson, Forbes, 17 Oct. 2024 Read more Crude oil prices fall more than 4% as looming surplus overshadows Iran-Israel tensions Ericsson shares jump 7% on third-quarter beat, growth in North America sales Telecoms stocks rose 1.97%, driven by Sweden’s Ericsson, which jumped 10.8%. Karen Gilchrist,jenni Reid,holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 15 Oct. 2024 Yet in the public mind, the new economic agenda was largely overshadowed by a problem the reformers had not anticipated: the highest inflation in four decades. Andrew Prokop, Vox, 15 Oct. 2024 But the real star here is nature, something that Post Hotel & Spa Lake Louise is careful not to overshadow. Laura Studarus, Travel + Leisure, 11 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for overshadow 

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 30 Oct. 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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