Prefix with "Over"
Overtake /ˌəʊvərˈteɪk/ (v):
# [transitive, intransitive] overtake (somebody/something) (especially British English) to go past a moving vehicle or person ahead of you because you are going faster than they are.
He pulled out to overtake a truck.
It's dangerous to overtake on a bend.
# [transitive] overtake somebody/something to become greater in number, amount or importance than something else.
SYNONYM outstrip;
Nuclear energy may overtake oil as the main fuel.
We mustn't let ourselves be overtaken by our competitors.
Quinine has been overtaken by newer drugs.
# [transitive, often passive] overtake somebody/something if something unpleasant overtakes a person, it unexpectedly starts to happen and to affect them.
The climbers were overtaken by bad weather.
Sudden panic overtook her.
Our original plan was overtaken by events (= the situation changed very rapidly) and we had to make a new one.
Overlook /ˌəʊvərˈlʊk/ (v):
# overlook something to fail to see or notice something.
SYNONYM miss;
He seems to have overlooked one important fact.
In my hurry to finish the exam I had overlooked part of one of the questions.
# overlook something to see something wrong or bad but decide to ignore it.
SYNONYM turn a blind eye (to something);
We could not afford to overlook such a serious offence.
He’s so friendly - people are prepared to overlook his faults.
I was prepared to overlook her mistakes this time.
# overlook something if a building, etc. overlooks a place, you can see that place from the building.
a restaurant overlooking the lake.
Our back yard is overlooked by several houses.
# overlook somebody (for something) to not consider somebody for a job or position, even though they might be suitable
SYNONYM pass over;
She's been overlooked for promotion several times.
overcome /ˌəʊvərˈkʌm/ (v):
# overcome something to succeed in dealing with or controlling a problem that has been preventing you from achieving something.
SYNONYM get over;
She overcame injury to win the Olympic gold medal.
The two parties managed to overcome their differences on the issue.
He finally managed to overcome his fear of flying.
He overcame a strong temptation to run away.
# overcome somebody/something to defeat somebody.
In the final game Sweden easily overcame France.
# [usually passive] overcome somebody to affect somebody very strongly.
SYNONYM overwhelm;
Her parents were overcome with grief at the funeral.
Overcome by curiosity, the boy looked through the window.
The dead woman had been overcome by smoke.
overdue /ˌəʊvəˈdjuː/ (adj):
# not paid, done, returned, etc. by the required or expected time.
an overdue payment/ library book.
The rent is now overdue.
Her baby is two weeks overdue.
This car is overdue for a service.
# that should have happened or been done before now.
overdue reforms.
A book like this is long overdue.
overdrive /ˈəʊvədraɪv/ (n):
# [uncountable] (old-fashioned) an extra high gear in a vehicle, used when you are driving at high speeds.
to be in overdrive.
# go into overdrive (idiom): to start being very active and working very hard.
As the wedding approached, the whole family went into overdrive.
overdressed /ˌəʊvəˈdrest/ (adj):
# (usually disapproving) wearing clothes that are too formal or too smart for a particular occasion.
OPPOSITE underdressed;
overdrawn /ˌəʊvəˈdrɔːn/ (v):
# [not usually before noun] (of a person) having taken more money out of your bank account than you have in it.
I'm overdrawn by £100.
Do you have to pay charges if you go overdrawn?
# (of a bank account) with more money taken out than was paid in or left in.
an overdrawn account
Your account is £200 overdrawn.
overdraw /ˌəʊvəˈdrɔː/ (v):
# overdraw (something): to take out more money from a bank account than it contains.
Customers who overdraw their accounts will be charged a fee.
overdose /ˈəʊvədəʊs/ (n):
# too much of a drug taken at one time, so that it is dangerous.
a drug/drugs overdose
She took a massive overdose of sleeping pills.
overdose /ˈəʊvədəʊs/ (v):
# overdose (on something): to take too much of a drug at one time, so that it is dangerous.
He had overdosed on heroin.
(figurative) I had overdosed on sun.
overdog /ˈəʊvədɒɡ/ (n):
# (disapproving) a person, organization or country that is successful or in a stronger position than others, especially when they seem to have an unfair advantage.
political leaders who support the interests of the overdog.
The judge had a reputation as a champion of the overdog.
This newspaper aims to defend the underdog and bite the ankle of the overdog.
>>> underdog /ˈʌndədɒɡ/ (n):
# a person, team, country, etc. that is thought to be in a weaker position than others and therefore not likely to be successful, win a competition, etc.
Before the game we were definitely the underdogs.
In politics, he was a champion of the underdog (= always fought for the rights of weaker people).
overdo /ˌəʊvəˈduː/ (v):
# overdo something to do something too much; to make something seem larger, better, worse or more important than it really is.
She really overdid the sympathy (= and so did not seem sincere).
# overdo something: to use too much of something.
Don't overdo the salt in the food.
Use illustrations where appropriate but don't overdo it.
# [usually passive] overdo something to cook something for too long.
The fish was overdone and very dry.
overdo it/things (idiom): to work, study, etc. too hard or for too long.
He's been overdoing things recently.
I overdid it in the gym and hurt my back.
overdevelop /ˌəʊvədɪˈveləp/ (v):
# overdevelop something to make something grow too large.
Too many push-ups can overdevelop the chest muscles.
# overdevelop something to build too many new houses, factories, etc. on an area of land.
We do not want to overdevelop North Yorkshire and ruin what is such a beautiful county.
overcrowded /ˌəʊvəˈkraʊdɪd/ (adj):
# (of a place) with too many people or things in it.
overcrowded cities/ prisons.
Too many poor people are living in overcrowded conditions.
overcritical /ˌəʊvəˈkrɪtɪkl/ (adj):
# too critical.