overfeed

verb

over·​feed ˌō-vər-ˈfēd How to pronounce overfeed (audio)
overfed ˌō-vər-ˈfed How to pronounce overfeed (audio) ; overfeeding

transitive verb

: to feed to excess

intransitive verb

: to eat to excess

Examples of overfeed in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Infants might also react to overfeeding or a gas-inducing food in their nursing parent’s diet. Kaitlin Bell, Parents, 6 Feb. 2024 During the trial, prosecutors alleged that Letby killed five boys and two girls and attempted to kill another five boys and five girls in the hospital’s neonatal unit by poisoning them with insulin, injecting air into their veins or overfeeding them with milk. Annabelle Timsit, Washington Post, 18 Aug. 2023 Over the course of the trial at Manchester Crown Court, which began in October, jurors heard that Letby had harmed the babies in her care in a number of ways, including by overfeeding them with milk and injecting them with air and insulin. Megan Specia, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Aug. 2023 Over the course of the trial at Manchester Crown Court, which began in October, jurors heard that Ms. Letby had harmed the babies in her care in a number of ways, including by overfeeding them with milk and injecting them with air and insulin. Aaron Boxerman, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2023 In fact, overfeeding waterfowl can cause a host of problems, from teaching them to rely on human handouts to throwing off their natural nutritional balance. Natalie Wallington, Popular Science, 31 May 2023 Planning tours is his sweet spot, so organizing a driving trip amid pandemic restrictions not only put him back in his comfort zone but also kept him too busy to overfeed his sourdough starter — nicknamed Yeasterday in tribute to the Beatles — in the quest for the perfect loaf. Diane Haithman, Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2020 Again, don’t overfeed. Dean Kuipers, Outside Online, 15 Apr. 2022 Infants who are bottle feeding may be more likely to overfeed, because drinking from a bottle may take less effort than breastfeeding. Tribune News Service, al, 7 June 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'overfeed.' 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

1589, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of overfeed was in 1589

Dictionary Entries Near overfeed

Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

overfeed

verb
over·​feed ˌō-vər-ˈfēd How to pronounce overfeed (audio)
overfed -ˈfed How to pronounce overfeed (audio) ; overfeeding
: to feed or eat to excess

Medical Definition

overfeed

verb
over·​feed ˌō-vər-ˈfēd How to pronounce overfeed (audio)
overfed -ˈfed How to pronounce overfeed (audio) ; overfeeding

transitive verb

: to feed to excess

intransitive verb

: to eat to excess

More from Merriam-Webster on overfeed

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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