overshadow
gb/ˈoʊvɚʃˈædoʊ/ us/ˈoʊvɚʃˈædoʊ/
B2
English
Senses
0 senses
Verb
C1
action
1
be more important or impressive
To be so good or noticeable that others seem less important.
Usage pattern:
[something/someone] overshadows [something/someone]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with physical shadowing; this meaning is usually figurative (about attention, importance, or success).
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.)
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
Themes
communication
|work
|media
|social_life
Examples
- Her early success overshadowed everything she did later.
- The star striker’s goal overshadowed the rest of the match.
- The sequel was entertaining, but it never overshadowed the original.
Learner examples
- His fame overshadowed his teammates.
- The big announcement overshadowed the meeting.
Verb
C1
action
2
spoil an event or time
To make a happy time feel less happy because something bad happens.
Usage pattern:
[something] overshadows [event/period]
Common mistake:
Often used in passive with by: “The wedding was overshadowed by …”, not “was overshadowed from …”.
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.)
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
Themes
emotions
|daily_life
|relationships
|health
Examples
- The party was overshadowed by the news of his accident.
- Her graduation was overshadowed by a family argument.
- The win was overshadowed by a serious injury in the final minutes.
Learner examples
- The holiday was overshadowed by rain.
- Bad news overshadowed our dinner.
Verb
C1
action
3
hang over as a worry
To make people worried because it might happen.
Usage pattern:
[threat/concern] overshadows [situation]
Common mistake:
This sense is about worry or threat dominating attention; it does not mean the event has already happened.
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.)
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
Themes
emotions
|business
|politics
|news
Examples
- Fears of layoffs overshadowed the team meeting.
- Uncertainty about funding overshadowed the entire project.
- The possibility of a strike overshadowed the negotiations.
Learner examples
- Money worries overshadowed my plans.
- The threat of storms overshadowed the trip.
Verb
B2
action
4
cast a shadow over
To be above or next to something and block its light.
Usage pattern:
[object] overshadows [place/thing]
Common mistake:
In this physical meaning, it usually describes buildings, trees, or hills, not people ‘overshadowing’ someone by standing close.
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.)
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
Themes
nature
|home
|weather
Examples
- Tall buildings overshadow the park in the late afternoon.
- A large oak tree overshadows the back patio.
- The balcony overshadows the lower windows, so they get little sun.
Learner examples
- A big tree overshadows the garden.
- The house is overshadowed by a taller building.
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.