overgrow
verb
over·grow
ˌō-vər-ˈgrō 
overgrew
ˌō-vər-ˈgrü
; overgrown
ˌō-vər-ˈgrōn
; overgrowing
; overgrown
ˌō-vər-ˈgrōn
; overgrowing
1
: to grow over so as to cover with herbage
2
: to grow beyond or rise above : outgrow
Examples of overgrow in a Sentence
The weeds have overgrown the garden.
Recent Examples on the Web
Now in ruins, the structure lacked a roof and was overgrown with tropical plants.
—
Sophie Dodd, Peoplemag, 12 May 2024
Here and there, we’re shown signs of the human civilization that’s been destroyed: the carcasses of buildings, escalators, and elevated train tracks, overgrown with shrubbery.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 8 May 2024
The faces in the grocery store remain unfamiliar, the fence-line conversations with neighbors infrequent, the fence lines themselves overgrown with vines because there is no one there to tend them.
—Abrahm Lustgarten, ProPublica, 11 Apr. 2024
The neighborhood has tried to clean up some of the empty lots that are overgrown with weeds and filled with trash and wildlife.
—Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Mar. 2024
The shoreline was overgrown with invasive bush honeysuckle, blocking river views and preventing natives from growing.
—Justin Wm. Moyer, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2024
The stately old buildings were chipped and faded or crumbling into the street, their courtyards and sidewalks overgrown and buckled.
—Chantha Nguon, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Feb. 2024
City of West Allis Attorney Kail Decker had sent a notice of nuisance to Burger King in May 2023, saying the property was overgrown with weeds, contained broken glass and had painted wood that was rotting underneath.
—Adrienne Davis, Journal Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2024
There were actually two coops and one very long run, which was overgrown with weeds.
—Martha McPhee, The New Yorker, 19 Aug. 2023
Sophie Dodd, Peoplemag, 12 May 2024
Here and there, we’re shown signs of the human civilization that’s been destroyed: the carcasses of buildings, escalators, and elevated train tracks, overgrown with shrubbery.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 8 May 2024
The faces in the grocery store remain unfamiliar, the fence-line conversations with neighbors infrequent, the fence lines themselves overgrown with vines because there is no one there to tend them.
—Abrahm Lustgarten, ProPublica, 11 Apr. 2024
The neighborhood has tried to clean up some of the empty lots that are overgrown with weeds and filled with trash and wildlife.
—Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Mar. 2024
The shoreline was overgrown with invasive bush honeysuckle, blocking river views and preventing natives from growing.
—Justin Wm. Moyer, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2024
The stately old buildings were chipped and faded or crumbling into the street, their courtyards and sidewalks overgrown and buckled.
—Chantha Nguon, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Feb. 2024
City of West Allis Attorney Kail Decker had sent a notice of nuisance to Burger King in May 2023, saying the property was overgrown with weeds, contained broken glass and had painted wood that was rotting underneath.
—Adrienne Davis, Journal Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2024
There were actually two coops and one very long run, which was overgrown with weeds.
—Martha McPhee, The New Yorker, 19 Aug. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'overgrow.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near overgrow
Cite this Entry
“Overgrow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overgrow. Accessed 17 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
overgrow
verb
over·grow
ˌō-vər-ˈgrō
1
: to grow over so as to cover
2
: outgrow
3
: to grow too big
an overgrown puppy
4
: to become grown over
Medical Definition
overgrow
intransitive verb
over·grow
ˌō-vər-ˈgrō
: to grow or increase beyond the normal or natural size or numbers
when a scar overgrows into a keloid—Morris Fishbein
Morris FishbeinLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
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