overweight

American  

[oh-ver-weyt, oh-ver-weyt, oh-ver-weyt] / ˈoʊ vərˈweɪt, ˈoʊ vərˌweɪt, ˌoʊ vərˈweɪt /

adjective

1. weighing too much or more than is considered normal, proper, etc..

   overweight luggage; an overweight patient; two letters that may be overweight.

---

noun

1. extra or excess weight above what law or regulation allows, as of baggage or freight.

   The overweight will cost us $12.

2. weight in excess of that considered normal, proper, healthful, etc..

   Overweight in a child should not be neglected.

3. greater effect or importance; preponderance.

verb (used with object)

overweights, present (3rd person singular) overweighted, past participle, past overweighting present participle

1. to weight excessively; exceed the weight limit of.

2. to give too much consideration or emphasis to; stress unduly.

overweight British  

adjective

1. weighing more than is usual, allowed, or healthy

2. finance

   1. having a higher proportion of one's investments in a particular sector of the market than the size of that sector relative to the total market would suggest: portfolio managers are currently overweight in bonds

   2. (of a fund etc) invested disproportionately in this way

---

noun

1. extra or excess weight

2. archaic greater importance or effect

verb

1. to give too much emphasis or consideration to

2. to add too much weight to

3. to weigh down

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

• overweighting
  present
• overweighted
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• overweight
  simple
• overweights
  simple
• have overweighted
  perfect
• has overweighted
  perfect
• am overweighting
  progressive
• are overweighting
  progressive
• is overweighting
  progressive
• have been overweighting
  perfect progressive
• has been overweighting
  perfect progressive

Past

• overweighted
  simple
• had overweighted
  perfect
• was overweighting
  progressive
• were overweighting
  progressive
• had been overweighting
  perfect progressive

Future

• will overweight
  simple
• will have overweighted
  perfect
• will be overweighting
  progressive
• will have been overweighting
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of overweight

First recorded in 1545–55; over- + weight

Example Sentences

Hong Leong downgrades the Malaysian banking sector’s rating to neutral from overweight given the absence of immediate near-term catalysts.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 8, 2026

Despite boosting bull-case expectations, Morgan Stanley on Wednesday maintained a $105 price target and overweight rating on Rocket Lab’s stock in its base case.

From MarketWatch • Jul. 8, 2026

Their rating is overweight and their target price is 480,000 won, more than a third higher than the closing price of 296,000 won.

From MarketWatch • Jul. 7, 2026

KFF, a nonpartisan health-research group, mapped Medicare claims and estimated 3.8 million seniors eligible, out of more than 13 million who are overweight or obese.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 2, 2026

Three of every five Americans are overweight; one of every five is obese.

From "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan

Related Words

• corpulent
• obese
• pudgy