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verb B2 Upper-Intermediate

overshadow

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Overshadow (verb) means to fall across something and hide it from the light.

verb
1
To fall across something and hide it from the light.
2
To be so much more noticeable or important than something else that it makes it seem unimportant by comparison.
"President Obama gave an important press conference today and even took questions from the press, but all of this was overshadowed by the fact that Obama debuted one of the ugliest suits in the history of this great nation." — Arit John, No One Heard Anything Obama Just Said Because His Tan Suit Was So Loud (2014)
3
To cover something and keep it safe.
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Etymology

Came into English via Middle English overschadwen, overschadewe, from Old English ofersċeadwian (“to overshadow”), equivalent to over- plus shadow. Compare West Frisian oerskaduwe (“to overshadow”), Dutch overschaduwen (“to overshadow”), German überschatten (“to overshadow”), Gothic ???????????? (ufarskadwjan, “to overshadow”), and, more distantly, Old Norse yfirskyggja (“to overshadow”), Danish overskygge (“to overshadow”), Swedish överskugga (“to overshadow”) and Old English ofersċūwan (“to overshadow”).

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Rhymes for overshadow

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Frequently asked questions

What is the meaning of overshadow?
"overshadow" (verb) means to fall across something and hide it from the light.
What is another word for overshadow?
Other words for "overshadow" include eclipse, dwarf, dominate, shadow.
What are the different meanings of overshadow?
"overshadow" has 3 main meanings: 1. To fall across something and hide it from the light; 2. To be so much more noticeable or important than something else that it makes it seem unimportant by comparison; 3. To cover something and keep it safe.

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