overdo

verb

over·​do ˌō-vər-ˈdü How to pronounce overdo (audio)

transitive verb

1
a
: to do in excess
b
: to use to excess
2
: to cook too long
3

intransitive verb

: to go to extremes

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 Don’t overdo the backyard grill — charring fatty foods over charcoal can cause carcinogens that contribute to cancer, Rarback said. Rochelle Koff, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024 Don’t overdo it; listen to complaints and do your best to rectify any issue that might jeopardize a meaningful relationship. Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 18 Feb. 2024 Besides being a downside for blood pressure, Sauceda said overdoing it on salt could even irritate your gut. Sarah Garone, Health, 10 Jan. 2024 What to Consider A little goes a long way, so be careful not to overdo it. Katherine Alex Beaven, Travel + Leisure, 23 Jan. 2024 For nearly the last decade, Gucci turned overdoing it into both an ethos and a business plan. Jason Horowitz, Vogue, 12 Jan. 2024 At the same time, the CCP has been less direct as the election approaches, wary of overdoing it, experts note. Pranshu Verma, Washington Post, 12 Jan. 2024 Hydrating products like the Bora Barrier Rich Repair Cream are fine, though Dr. Zeichner cautions not to overdo it. Ariana Yaptangco, Glamour, 10 Jan. 2024 Now that inflation has dropped to about three per cent—within a point or so of the Fed’s goal—Powell and his colleagues are reacting to concerns about overdoing their anti-inflation drive and driving the economy into a recession. John Cassidy, The New Yorker, 15 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'overdo.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of overdo was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near overdo

Cite this Entry

“Overdo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overdo. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

overdo

verb
over·​do -ˈdü How to pronounce overdo (audio)
overdid -ˈdid How to pronounce overdo (audio) ; overdone -ˈdən How to pronounce overdo (audio) ; overdoing -ˈdü-iŋ How to pronounce overdo (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on overdo

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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