Overdressed: meaning, definitions and examples

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overdressed

 

[ oʊvərˈdrɛst ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

fashion style

Overdressed refers to being dressed in clothing that is more formal or elaborate than what is considered appropriate for a specific occasion. This can imply that the outfit is excessively decorative or stylish for the event at hand.

Synonyms

dressy, fancy, too formal

Examples of usage

  • She felt overdressed for the casual gathering.
  • Many attendees were overdressed for the barbecue.
  • He showed up overdressed, wearing a tuxedo to a backyard party.

Translations

Translations of the word "overdressed" in other languages:

🇵🇹 excessivamente vestido

🇮🇳 अधिक कपड़े पहना हुआ

🇩🇪 übertrieben gekleidet

🇮🇩 terlalu berpakaian

🇺🇦 перевдягнений

🇵🇱 przeubrany

🇯🇵 着飾りすぎた

🇫🇷 trop habillé

🇪🇸 sobrevestido

🇹🇷 aşırı giyinmiş

🇰🇷 과하게 차려입은

🇸🇦 مبالغ في ارتداء الملابس

🇨🇿 přehnaně oblečený

🇸🇰 preháňaný oblečený

🇨🇳 穿得过于讲究

🇸🇮 preoblačen

🇮🇸 ofurklæddur

🇰🇿 артық киінген

🇬🇪 მეტისმეტად ჩაცმული

🇦🇿 həddindən artıq geyinmiş

🇲🇽 sobrevestido

Word origin

The term 'overdressed' is a combination of the prefix 'over-' meaning excessive and the word 'dressed' which is the past participle of 'dress'. The word 'dress' itself has Old French origins, derived from 'drecier', which means to arrange or put in order, and traces back to Latin 'distrahere', meaning to pull apart. Over time, 'dressed' has come to indicate not just the act of putting on clothes but also the style and formality of one’s attire. The prefix 'over-' adds a connotation of excess, suggesting that the level of dress exceeds what is socially or culturally acceptable for the occasion.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #35,459, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.