overshadow
Americanverb (used with object)
-
overshadows,
present (3rd person singular)
-
overshadowed,
past participle, past
-
overshadowing
present participle
-
to be more important or significant by comparison.
For years he overshadowed his brother.
-
to cast a shadow over; cover with shadows, clouds, darkness, etc.; darken or obscure.
clouds overshadowing the moon.
-
to make sad or hang heavily over; cast a pall on.
a disappointment that overshadowed their last years.
-
Archaic. to shelter or protect.
verb
-
to render insignificant or less important in comparison
-
to cast a shadow or gloom over
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
overshadowsimple
-
overshadowssimple
-
have overshadowedperfect
-
has overshadowedperfect
-
am overshadowingprogressive
-
are overshadowingprogressive
-
is overshadowingprogressive
-
have been overshadowingperfect progressive
-
has been overshadowingperfect progressive
Past
-
overshadowedsimple
-
had overshadowedperfect
-
was overshadowingprogressive
-
were overshadowingprogressive
-
had been overshadowingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of overshadow
before 900; Middle English overshadewen, Old English ofersceadwian. See over-, shadow
Explanation
To overshadow is to appear more important or larger than something else. Your sister's tendency to interrupt and speak loudly sometimes overshadows what a caring person she is. You can use this verb in a very literal way, to mean "cast a shadow over something smaller," like the enormous oak tree in your yard that overshadows your small house. It's also possible to figuratively overshadow, like when your worry about next week's math test overshadows the happiness you feel waking up to a snow day. One person can overshadow another too, when they appear more interesting, successful, or attractive.
Vocabulary lists containing overshadow
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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.
See Examples For:
Such a résumé can overshadow his distinction as a bandleader.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 20, 2026
Instead, worries that a slowdown in the AI-investment boom could weigh on economic growth appeared to overshadow the latest inflation data, according to Mike Thompson, co-portfolio manager at Little Harbor Advisors.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 15, 2026
She also expressed concern that the allegations might overshadow her messaging around affordability.
From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026
His comments—his tone, his excitement or lack of it—often overshadow the automaker’s posted results.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 9, 2026
Doreen didn’t look much better, but the exuberance of her entry was enough to overshadow any haggardness.
From "We'll Fly Away" by Bryan Bliss
The unwelcome trajectory for mortgage rates overshadows some positive news for home buyers: the recovery in housing supply, which has been constrained over the past few years.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 14, 2026
"When you have two quarks produced, the problem is that, when the two quarks go in opposite directions, the one quark overshadows the wake of the second quark," Lee says.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 6, 2026
What’s more, the histrionic grandeur she imbues the scene with overshadows the dramatic revelation that follows: the reading of the Delphic oracle’s judgment that she is indeed innocent, and Leontes is “a jealous tyrant.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026
Fire victims experienced something of such magnitude, they might believe, that it overshadows other, carefully honed parts of their identity — such as being a good friend or student or athlete, Leskin said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 17, 2025
The Newton of rhetoric—the one person whose work in this department overshadows the whole history of the subject—was, of course, Aristotle.
From "Words Like Loaded Pistols" by Sam Leith
King Charles III begins a delicate tour of the Caribbean Tuesday, overshadowed by calls to apologise and pay reparations for the slave trade, which he has called the "darkest days" of British history.
From Barron's ● Oct. 27, 2026
The Denver Broncos earned the top seed in the AFC Conference last season but, although they beat Buffalo in the divisional round, the win was overshadowed by a late injury to Bo Nix.
From BBC ● Oct. 26, 2026
Hachimura filled a supporting role with the Lakers, where he was overshadowed by Reaves, Doncic and LeBron James.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 24, 2026
Meta’s stock declined as concerns over heavy spending on AI overshadowed the 26% increase in third-quarter revenue the company reported on Wednesday.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 23, 2026
She wasn’t even afraid of the rusalka; that emotion had been overshadowed by her overwhelming guilt.
From Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternack
“Yes, there’s been improvement. But does anyone care? No,” said McDaniel, referring to losses overshadowing improvements he’s seen since Week 1.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026
Peloton Interactive issued a muted revenue outlook for fiscal 2027 as subscriber losses continue to deepen, overshadowing fourth-quarter profit gains and virtually flat revenue.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026
Leveraged ETFs and their siblings, inverse funds, are risky, and their frenzied proliferation that kicked into overdrive 2025 may be overshadowing their big jump in closures this year.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 28, 2026
Bullingham also made clear that the FA was keen to avoid the scenario of uncertainty over its manager's future overshadowing the World Cup.
From BBC ● Jun. 16, 2026
There was a new pain, a scalding pain in my hand that was overshadowing everything else.
From "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
