overdo

verb

over·​do ˌō-vər-ˈdü 

overdid ˌō-vər-ˈdid  ; overdone ˌō-vər-ˈdən  ; overdoing ˌō-vər-ˈdü-iŋ  ; overdoes ˌō-vər-ˈdəz 

transitive verb

1

a

: to do in excess

b

: to use to excess

c

: exaggerate

2

: to cook too long

3

: exhaust

intransitive verb

: to go to extremes

Synonyms

• exaggerate
• overdraw
• overstate
• put on

Examples of overdo in a Sentence

You should exercise every day, but don't overdo it.

The acting in that play was badly overdone.

Don't overdo the salt in this recipe.

The cook overdid the hamburgers.

Recent Examples on the Web

Each section of the building’s exterior is paired with a layer of terra-cotta pilasters that don both the east and west façades of the tower, giving it a glamorous aged feel without overdoing it. —Jessica Cherner, Architectural Digest, 5 Nov. 2024

To walk the fine line between adding more mainline pilot jobs with the additional passenger traffic flown in by the regionals, and not losing jobs by overdoing the use of less-expensive regional pilots, the mainline unions added some speed bumps. —Brian Foley, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024

The film’s empathy exists mostly in the abstract, as Finn overdoes Skye’s fraying consciousness. —Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2024

Just don’t overdo it—if your positives feel forced, the person will see right through it. —Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Kids Definition

overdo

verb

over·​do -ˈdü 

overdid -ˈdid  ; overdone -ˈdən  ; overdoing -ˈdü-iŋ 

1

: to do too much

overdoes it getting ready for a party

2

: exaggerate

overdo praise

3

: to cook too long

meat that is overdone