overweight

American  

[oh-ver-weyt, oh-ver-weyt, oh-ver-weyt] / ˈoʊ vərˈweɪt, ˈoʊ vərˌweɪt, ˌoʊ vərˈweɪt /

adjective

1. weighing too much or more than is considered normal, proper, etc..

   overweight luggage; an overweight patient; two letters that may be overweight.

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noun

1. extra or excess weight above what law or regulation allows, as of baggage or freight.

   The overweight will cost us $12.

2. weight in excess of that considered normal, proper, healthful, etc..

   Overweight in a child should not be neglected.

3. greater effect or importance; preponderance.

verb (used with object)

overweights, present (3rd person singular) overweighted, past participle, past overweighting present participle

1. to weight excessively; exceed the weight limit of.

2. to give too much consideration or emphasis to; stress unduly.

overweight British  

adjective

1. weighing more than is usual, allowed, or healthy

2. finance

   1. having a higher proportion of one's investments in a particular sector of the market than the size of that sector relative to the total market would suggest: portfolio managers are currently overweight in bonds

   2. (of a fund etc) invested disproportionately in this way

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noun

1. extra or excess weight

2. archaic greater importance or effect

verb

1. to give too much emphasis or consideration to

2. to add too much weight to

3. to weigh down

Other Word Forms

Conjugated Forms

Present

• have overweighted
  perfect
• has overweighted
  perfect 3rd person singular
• am overweighting
  progressive 1st person singular
• has been overweighting
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• have been overweighting
  perfect progressive
• overweighting
  participle
• are overweighting
  progressive
• overweights
  singular 3rd person
• is overweighting
  progressive 3rd person singular

Past

• had overweighted
  perfect
• were overweighting
  progressive plural
• was overweighting
  progressive singular
• had been overweighting
  perfect progressive
• overweighted
  simple
• overweighted
  participle

Future

• will overweight
  simple
• will have overweighted
  perfect
• will have been overweighting
  perfect progressive
• will be overweighting
  progressive

Etymology

Origin of overweight

First recorded in 1545–55; over- + weight

Example Sentences

Zealand Chief Medical Officer David Kendall said the data reported by Boehringer reinforce survodutide’s potential as a differentiated therapy for people living with overweight or obesity and associated metabolic dysfunction.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 8, 2026

The drug is targeted adults living with obesity or overweight, without type 2 diabetes, and adults with overweight or obesity with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 8, 2026

On Tuesday morning, it closed briefly after an overweight vehicle crossed, prompting an inspection before reopening at 13:00 BST.

From BBC • May 27, 2026

Retatrutide, an investigational triple hormone receptor agonist, delivered positive weight-loss results in a late-stage clinical trial in certain overweight adults without diabetes.

From Barron's • May 21, 2026

“There’s no reason to be sensitive about being a little overweight, Bull. A lot of people are fat,” she teased.

From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy

Related Words

• corpulent
• obese
• pudgy