1 overshadow | Definition of overshadow

overshadow

verb
over·​shad·​ow | \ ˌƍ-vər-ˈsha-(ˌ)dƍ How to pronounce overshadow (audio) \
overshadowed; overshadowing; overshadows

Definition of overshadow

transitive verb

1 : to cast a shadow over
2 : to exceed in importance : outweigh

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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

The polarity in stature between the two players makes this a fairly simple decision, with Lukaku clearly overshadowing Dybala in terms of size and physical presence. SI.com, "Paulo Dybala or Romelu Lukaku: Assessing Which Club Would Benefit More From a Potential Swap," 31 July 2019 For the first debate night, however, much of the pressure will be on Sanders to regain his footing after a June performance that was overshadowed by Harris and Biden. oregonlive.com, "Who won Tuesday night’s Democratic presidential debate? Vote here.," 30 July 2019 More: Lower-league roundup: FC Cincinnati prospects, former players star on opening day in USL Championship McCabe did indeed give an admirable performance that was overshadowed by Minnesota's general dominance in the game. Pat Brennan, Cincinnati.com, "How Tommy McCabe shined on one FC Cincinnati's darkest days," 30 June 2019 That’s a risk that might not be worth taking for a team that, even with a healthy Durant, will probably still be overshadowed by the Lakers. Connor Letourneau, SFChronicle.com, "Kevin Durant’s free agency: An in-depth breakdown of the superstar’s options," 26 June 2019 Roommate drama between Lauren, Lo and Audrina overshadows Alkaline Trio (Season 3/Episode 27) After moving into a palatial Hollywood home together, Audrina's relationship with Lauren and co-star Lo Bosworth was fractured by the end of Season 3. Glenn Rowley, Billboard, "'The Hills' Best Music Moments: Lady Gaga, Brandy, Ryan Cabrera & More," 24 June 2019 Although his creative life began there, in a tiny studio with one seamstress, California is overshadowed for him with memories of his younger self. Nathan Heller, Vogue, "A Day in Paris with Rick Owens, Fashion’s Coolest Iconoclast," 12 Feb. 2019 The first is that politics becomes more extreme and polarized following a crisis; the second is that countries become more ungovernable as violence, protests and populist revolts overshadow the rule of law. Amanda Foreman, WSJ, "The High Cost of Financial Panics," 10 Jan. 2019 But Green said the casino has also been gradually overshadowed with the construction of larger casino resorts in recent decades. David Montero, latimes.com, "Blast from the past: Motorcyclist Travis Pastrana jumps over Caesars Palace fountains, outdoing Evel Knievel," 9 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'overshadow.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of overshadow

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

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More Definitions for overshadow

overshadow

verb

English Language Learners Definition of overshadow

: to cause (something or someone) to seem less important or impressive when compared to something or someone else
: to make (something) less enjoyable because of sadness, fear, or worry
: to cast a shadow over (something)

overshadow

verb
over·​shad·​ow | \ ˌƍ-vər-ˈsha-dƍ How to pronounce overshadow (audio) \
overshadowed; overshadowing

Kids Definition of overshadow

1 : to cast a shadow over : darken
2 : to be or become more important than Her achievements overshadowed those of her classmates.

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