oversell

[oh-ver-sel]

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verb (used with object), o·ver·sold, o·ver·sell·ing.

to sell more of (a stock, product, etc.) than can be delivered.

to sell aggressively, as by using high-pressure merchandising techniques.

to emphasize the good points of excessively and to a self-defeating extent: She so oversold the picnic that I became convinced I'd have a better time at the movies.

verb (used without object), o·ver·sold, o·ver·sell·ing.

to sell something aggressively.

to make extreme claims for something or someone.

Origin of oversell

First recorded in 1570–80; over- + sell¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for oversell

magnify, exaggerate, overestimate, overvalue, oversell, exceed, overpraise, overprize

British Dictionary definitions for oversell

oversell

verb -sells, -selling or -sold

(tr) to sell more of (a commodity) than can be supplied

to use excessively aggressive methods in selling (commodities)

(tr) to exaggerate the merits of

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012