overshadow

verb

over·​shad·​ow ˌō-vər-ˈsha-(ˌ)dō 

overshadowed; overshadowing; overshadows

transitive verb

1

: to cast a shadow over

2

: to exceed in importance : outweigh

Synonyms

• becloud
• bedim
• befog
• blacken
• blear
• blur
• cloud
• darken
• dim
• dislimn
• fog
• fuzz (up)
• haze
• mist
• obscure
• overcast
• overcloud
• shadow
• shroud

Examples of overshadow in a Sentence

The pitcher's outstanding performance should not overshadow the achievements of the rest of the team.

large trees overshadow the yard and darken the house for much of the day

Recent Examples on the Web

Like many Trek series, Star Trek: Voyager had a rocky beginning, and it was often overshadowed by the excellent Deep Space Nine. —Chris Snellgrove, EW.com, 16 Jan. 2025

The King of Pop’s entire catalog, including all his albums with the Jackson 5 and the Jacksons Written by Al Shipley | The sheer scale of Michael Jackson’s fame can sometimes overshadow the music itself. —Al Shipley, SPIN, 16 Jan. 2025

However, Hertl’s effectiveness on the power play has somewhat overshadowed his even-strength struggles. —Jesse Granger, The Athletic, 15 Jan. 2025

Quarterly earnings frequently overshadow deeper questions about ecological thresholds, broader planetary boundaries, or social consequences. —London Business School, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

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

Kids Definition

overshadow

verb

over·​shad·​ow -ˈshad-ō 

1

: to cast a shadow over : darken

2

: to become more important than : outweigh

the win overshadowed the player's injury