Overdo

/ˌəʊvəˈduː/ · verb

Meaning

(transitive) To do too much; to exceed what is proper or true in doing; to carry too far..

Definitions by Sense

1. (transitive) To do too much; to exceed what is proper or true in doing; to carry too far.
2. (transitive) To cook for too long.
3. (transitive) To give (someone or something) too much work; to require too much effort or strength of (someone); to use up too much of (something).
4. (obsolete, transitive) To do more than (someone); to do (something) to a greater extent.

Example Sentences

I overdid the sweets during the holidays and put on some weight.

[…] o’erstep not the modesty of nature: for anything so overdone is from the purpose of playing, whose end […] is to hold, as ’twere, the mirror up to nature;

[B]elieve me, / That servant overdoes, that’s too officious; / And in presuming to direct your master, / You argue him of weakness, and your self / Of arrogance and impertinence.

The merchant importers […] endeavour, as well as they can, to suit their occasional importations to what, they judge, is likely to be the immediate demand. With all their attention, however, they sometimes over-do the business, and sometimes under-do it.

Jo helps me with the sewing, and insists on doing all sorts of hard jobs. I should be afraid she might overdo, if I didn’t know her ‘moral fit’ wouldn’t last long.

Carol had overdone the ventilation and the room was cold.

to overdo the meat

[He] talked of a feast where he had been the day before, but that the venison was over-done.

Synonyms for overdo

Antonyms for overdo

Related Words

Word Forms

• overdoes
• overdoing
• overdid
• overdone

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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