overwrite

verb

over·​write ˌō-vər-ˈrīt 

ˌō-və-

overwrote ˌō-vər-ˈrōt 

ˌō-və-

; overwritten ˌō-vər-ˈri-tᵊn 

ˌō-və-

; overwriting ˌō-vər-ˈrī-tiŋ 

ˌō-və-

transitive verb

1

: to write over the surface of

2

: to write in inflated or overly elaborate style

intransitive verb

: to write too much or in an overly elaborate style

Examples of overwrite in a Sentence

The author has a tendency to overwrite.

Recent Examples on the Web

The Secure Erase feature on the Data page enables a right-click option to overwrite files and folders before deletion, thereby foiling attempts at forensic recovery. —PCMAG, 28 Jan. 2025

All that said, what appears to have been on the page for Gibson and his actors to work with is at once overwritten and emotionally anemic. —Todd Gilchrist, Variety, 23 Jan. 2025

Dollhouse involves an illicit business where people in desperate circumstances volunteer to have their minds temporarily wiped, so that, essentially, their hard drive can be overwritten with new memories and a new personality. —Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 28 Feb. 2025

For that reason, Trump cannot completely overwrite the international rules of business conduct. —Bernhard Warner, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1820, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for overwrite

• acolyte
• aconite
• allanite
• alunite
• amberlite
• ammonite
• amorite
• amphitrite
• analyte
• anchorite
• andesite
• anhydrite

Kids Definition

overwrite

verb

over·​write ˌō-və(r)-ˈrīt 

overwrote -ˈrōt  ; overwritten -ˈrit-ᵊn  ; overwriting -ˈrīt-iŋ 

1

: to write over the surface of : write on top of

2

: to write too much or in an overly elaborate style

overwritten accounts of everyday events