overgraze

American  

[oh-ver-greyz, oh-ver-greyz] / ˌoʊ vərˈgreɪz, ˈoʊ vərˌgreɪz /

verb (used with object)

overgrazed, overgrazing

1. to graze (land) to excess.

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overgraze British  

/ ˌəʊvəˈɡreɪz /

verb

1. (tr) to graze (land) beyond its capacity to sustain stock

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Etymology

Origin of overgraze

over- + graze ¹

Example Sentences

The trick, Dobson said, is making sure that the cows don’t overgraze, which could deplete the soil and release greenhouse gases stored within it.

From Salon • May 10, 2019

“If you overgraze, this landscape is quick to be unforgiving, and you’re going to be out of business,” he said.

From Washington Times • May 15, 2017

“They tend to overgraze the vegetation around water sources,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 3, 2015

"You could overgraze an arid land and convert it permanently to desert—that's a local threshold," Kareiva explains.

From Scientific American • Nov. 7, 2013

Hardin’s idea explains why public bathrooms are so gross, why people litter, and, according to his original example, why farmers will let their cows overgraze communal fields.

From BusinessWeek • Jul. 26, 2012