overshadow
gb/ˈoʊvɚʃˈædoʊ/ us/ˈoʊvɚʃˈædoʊ/
B2
English
háttérbe szorít, elhomályosít, beárnyékol, rányomja a bélyegét, árnyékot vet
VERB
C1
1
elhomályosít
C1
Usage pattern:
[something/someone] overshadows [something/someone]
Her early success overshadowed everything she did later.
Korai sikere háttérbe szorított mindent, amit később tett.
The star striker’s goal overshadowed the rest of the match.
A sztárcsatár gólja háttérbe szorította a meccs többi mozzanatát.
The sequel was entertaining, but it never overshadowed the original.
Learner examples
His fame overshadowed his teammates.
Hírneve háttérbe szorította a csapattársait.
The big announcement overshadowed the meeting.
A nagy bejelentés mellett maga az értekezlet háttérbe szorult.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with physical shadowing; this meaning is usually figurative (about attention, importance, or success).
Meaning
be more important or impressive
Collocations
overshadow the achievement
|overshadow the performance
|overshadow the event
|overshadow the rest
|overshadow her work
|overshadow his legacy
|completely overshadow
|threaten to overshadow
|overshadowed by
|overshadow everything
Synonyms
outshine (Suggests being brighter or better in a way that draws attention.)
|
eclipse (Often implies blocking attention so the other is barely noticed.)
|
upstage (Informal; often used for people seeking attention.)
|
surpass (Focuses on being better, not necessarily stealing attention.)
Antonyms
highlight (Means to make something more noticeable or important.)
|
showcase (Means to present something to attract attention.)
|
complement (Means to add to something without taking attention away.)
Themes
communication
|work
|media
|social_life
Definition
To be so good or noticeable that others seem less important.
To make someone or something seem less important, interesting, or impressive by comparison.
VERB
C1
2
beárnyékol
B2
Usage pattern:
[something] overshadows [event/period]
The party was overshadowed by the news of his accident.
A bulit beárnyékolta a balesetéről szóló hír.
Her graduation was overshadowed by a family argument.
A diplomaosztóját beárnyékolta egy családi veszekedés.
The win was overshadowed by a serious injury in the final minutes.
Learner examples
The holiday was overshadowed by rain.
A nyaralást beárnyékolta az eső.
Bad news overshadowed our dinner.
A rossz hír beárnyékolta a vacsoránkat.
Common mistake:
Often used in passive with by: “The wedding was overshadowed by …”, not “was overshadowed from …”.
Meaning
spoil an event or time
Collocations
overshadow the celebrations
|overshadow the holiday
|overshadow the wedding
|overshadow the day
|overshadow the trip
|overshadow the victory
|overshadow the occasion
|overshadow the moment
|sadly overshadowed
|partly overshadowed
Synonyms
spoil (Stronger and more direct; suggests ruining something.)
|
dampen (Milder; suggests reducing excitement or joy.)
|
mar (More formal; suggests damaging something good.)
|
cloud (Emphasizes negative feelings hanging over an event.)
Antonyms
brighten (Makes an event feel happier or more positive.)
|
lift (As in ‘lift the mood’; removes heaviness.)
|
enhance (Improves the experience.)
Themes
emotions
|daily_life
|relationships
|health
Definition
To make a happy time feel less happy because something bad happens.
To make an experience less happy or enjoyable, especially by bringing in a bad event or unpleasant feeling.
VERB
C1
3
Usage pattern:
[threat/concern] overshadows [situation]
Fears of layoffs overshadowed the team meeting.
Az elbocsátásoktól való félelem beárnyékolta a csapatértekezletet.
Uncertainty about funding overshadowed the entire project.
A finanszírozással kapcsolatos bizonytalanság beárnyékolta az egész projektet.
The possibility of a strike overshadowed the negotiations.
Learner examples
Money worries overshadowed my plans.
Az anyagi gondok beárnyékolták a terveimet.
The threat of storms overshadowed the trip.
A viharveszély beárnyékolta az utazást.
Common mistake:
This sense is about worry or threat dominating attention; it does not mean the event has already happened.
Meaning
hang over as a worry
Collocations
overshadow the talks
|overshadow the negotiations
|overshadow the meeting
|overshadow the campaign
|overshadow the year
|overshadow the project
|economic worries overshadow
|the threat of war overshadowed
|legal troubles overshadowed
|uncertainty overshadowed
Synonyms
loom over (Strongly suggests a threatening possibility in the near future.)
|
haunt (Often personal or emotional; suggests repeated troubling thoughts.)
|
weigh on (Focuses on mental or emotional burden.)
|
cast a pall over (More formal; suggests a general atmosphere of sadness.)
Antonyms
reassure (Reduces worry rather than creating it.)
|
settle (As in ‘settle doubts’; removes uncertainty.)
|
clarify (Makes the situation clearer and less worrying.)
Themes
emotions
|business
|politics
|news
Definition
To make people worried because it might happen.
To dominate a situation as a worrying possibility, making people feel anxious or uncertain about what will happen.
VERB
B2
4
beárnyékol
B2
árnyékot vet
B2
Usage pattern:
[object] overshadows [place/thing]
Tall buildings overshadow the park in the late afternoon.
A magas épületek késő délután beárnyékolják a parkot.
A large oak tree overshadows the back patio.
Egy nagy tölgyfa beárnyékolja a hátsó teraszt.
The balcony overshadows the lower windows, so they get little sun.
Learner examples
A big tree overshadows the garden.
Egy nagy fa beárnyékolja a kertet.
The house is overshadowed by a taller building.
A házat beárnyékolja egy magasabb épület.
Common mistake:
In this physical meaning, it usually describes buildings, trees, or hills, not people ‘overshadowing’ someone by standing close.
Meaning
cast a shadow over
Collocations
tall trees overshadowed
|overshadow the garden
|overshadow the courtyard
|overshadow the street
|overshadow nearby houses
|overshadow the window
|heavily overshadowed
|partly overshadowed
|overshadowed by buildings
|overshadowed by a hill
Synonyms
shade (Often focuses on providing coolness or protection from sun.)
|
shadow (Neutral physical blocking of light.)
|
darken (Emphasizes making an area less bright.)
Antonyms
illuminate (Casts light onto something.)
|
light up (Makes something brighter, often suddenly.)
|
expose to sunlight (Removes shade so light reaches it.)
Themes
nature
|home
|weather
Definition
To be above or next to something and block its light.
To cover someone or something with shadow, reducing the light on it.
Grammar
Dictionary form
overshadow
IPA
GB/ˈoʊvɚʃˈædoʊ/
US/ˈoʊvɚʃˈædoʊ/
Syllables & stress
over - shad - ow (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (over)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: overshadow
- 3rd Person Singular: overshadows
- Present Participle: overshadowing
- Past: overshadowed
Word family
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.