overshadow

Language: en

🇺🇸 /ˈoʊvɜrˈʃædoʊ/

📖 Definitions

  1. verb
    To appear much more prominent or important than something else, thereby making it seem less significant.; To cast a shadow over; to darken or block light from.; To dominate or exert a gloomy influence over; to loom over threateningly.

🔗 Details

Word forms

3rd sing.: overshadows Past: overshadowed Past part.: overshadowed Pres part.: overshadowing

Collocations

overshadowed byovershadow the importanceovershadow everything elsecast a shadow that overshadows

Derivatives

overshadowingovershadowed

Synonyms

eclipseoutshinedominateobscuredwarfdim

Antonyms

highlightemphasizeilluminate

Commonly confused

shadow
EN: 'Shadow' is the dark shape cast by an object or the act of following someone; 'overshadow' means to make something seem less important or to dominate by comparison.
outshine
EN: 'Outshine' implies surpassing in brilliance or quality; 'overshadow' implies making something seem less significant, often with a negative connotation.

Spelling tips

EN: No common spelling issues. Note the prefix 'over-' is written as one word with 'shadow', not hyphenated.

💬 Examples

  1. The success of his first novel overshadowed all his subsequent works.

  2. The tall buildings overshadow the small park below.

  3. The threat of war overshadowed the entire decade.