overshadow
Americanverb (used with object)
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to be more important or significant by comparison.
For years he overshadowed his brother.
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to cast a shadow over; cover with shadows, clouds, darkness, etc.; darken or obscure.
clouds overshadowing the moon.
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to make sad or hang heavily over; cast a pall on.
a disappointment that overshadowed their last years.
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Archaic. to shelter or protect.
verb
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to render insignificant or less important in comparison
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to cast a shadow or gloom over
Other Word Forms
- overshadower noun
- overshadowingly adverb
Etymology
Origin of overshadow
before 900; Middle English overshadewen, Old English ofersceadwian. See over-, shadow
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.
India's IT Secretary S Krishnan said the controversy should not "overshadow" the work put in by other participants at the summit.
From BBC • Feb. 18, 2026
The jobs report may overshadow the market’s recent preoccupation on just how much artificial intelligence will damage the growth prospects for software and other industries.
From MarketWatch • Feb. 11, 2026
Some analysts said that the results shouldn’t overshadow the two prior months of strong retail-sales figures.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 10, 2026
This is the director’s first film, and you sense him working in the same mode as early Yorgos Lanthimos before the Greek provocateur felt confident that a charismatic performance wouldn’t overshadow his script.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 4, 2026
No amount of spire-fighting trophies could overshadow that.
From "A Wish in the Dark" by Christina Soontornvat
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.
