overdress
Americanverb (used with or without object)
-
to dress with too much display, finery, or formality.
He certainly overdressed for the occasion.
-
to put excessive clothing on.
She tends to overdress her children.
noun
verb
noun
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
overdresssimple
-
overdressessimple
-
have overdressedperfect
-
has overdressedperfect
-
am overdressingprogressive
-
are overdressingprogressive
-
is overdressingprogressive
-
have been overdressingperfect progressive
-
has been overdressingperfect progressive
Past
-
overdressedsimple
-
had overdressedperfect
-
was overdressingprogressive
-
were overdressingprogressive
-
had been overdressingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of overdress
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.
"I was wearing formal clothing – that taught me not to overdress in hot weather."
From BBC • Jun. 22, 2026
“It’s just flagrantly obnoxious to overdress in a workplace situation, especially when you’re a junior member,” said Gunn, best known for being a clear-eyed mentor on the fashion-design competition show “Project Runway.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 7, 2026
“The sweetness means it can take an acid nicely,” notes the chef, who instructs his staff to slightly overdress Little Gems because he finds the “juiciness” of the leaves slightly dilutes the dressing.
From Washington Post • Mar. 18, 2022
Still, it’s hard to resist the temptation to overdress.
From Slate • Oct. 24, 2020
The upper garment, however, is a kind of tunic or simple overdress; nor can it be said that all are equally neat in their appearance.
From The Life and Times of Kateri Tekakwitha The Lily of the Mohawks by Walworth, Ellen H.
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.
