overdo
Americanverb (used with object)
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to do to excess; overindulge in.
to overdo dieting.
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to carry to excess or beyond the proper limit.
He puts on so much charm that he overdoes it.
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to overact (a part); exaggerate.
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to overtax the strength of; fatigue; exhaust.
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to cook too much or too long; overcook.
Don't overdo the hamburgers.
verb (used without object)
verb
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to take or carry too far; do to excess
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to exaggerate, overelaborate, or overplay
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to cook or bake too long
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to overtax one's strength, capacity, etc
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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overdosimple
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overdoessimple
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have overdoneperfect
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has overdoneperfect
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am overdoingprogressive
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are overdoingprogressive
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is overdoingprogressive
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have been overdoingperfect progressive
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has been overdoingperfect progressive
Past
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overdidsimple
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had overdoneperfect
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was overdoingprogressive
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were overdoingprogressive
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had been overdoingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of overdo
before 1000; Middle English overdon, Old English oferdōn. See over-, do 1
Vocabulary lists containing overdo
Commonly Confused Words, List 2
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Commonly Confused Words, List 4
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Commonly Confused Words, List 8
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It’s a lot of my new journey, but I wanted to make sure I didn’t overdo it.
From Los Angeles Times • May 6, 2026
They weren’t to overdo it at their holiday dinner table.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 26, 2025
“One of the best things about music’s potential to decrease dementia risk is that it is fun, can be interactive and you can’t overdo it,” Jaffa said.
From MarketWatch • Nov. 5, 2025
"I mean, I'm not going to overdo it, but I felt sorry for him because he's under pressure. People make mistakes."
From BBC • Oct. 8, 2025
“You don’t have to overdo it, Mother,” Ignatius said as they pushed through the dispersing crowd and started walking rapidly down Canal Street.
From "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
