Overgrew: meaning, definitions and examples

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overgrew

 

[ ˌoʊvərˈɡroʊ ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

past tense

Overgrew is the past tense of the verb overgrow, which means to grow beyond or to exceed in growth, often referring to plants or vegetation that have spread excessively or covered an area. It can also imply surpassing someone or something in development or size.

Synonyms

exceeded, expanded, outgrew, surpassed

Examples of usage

  • The garden overgrew with weeds this summer.
  • The city overgrew beyond its original borders.
  • Her interests overgrew the limitations of her environment.

Translations

Translations of the word "overgrew" in other languages:

🇵🇹 cresceu demais

🇮🇳 अतिक्रमण करना

🇩🇪 überwuchern

🇮🇩 tumbuh berlebihan

🇺🇦 пересаджений

🇵🇱 przerośnięty

🇯🇵 過剰成長する

🇫🇷 surcroître

🇪🇸 creció demasiado

🇹🇷 aşırı büyümek

🇰🇷 과도하게 성장하다

🇸🇦 نما بشكل مفرط

🇨🇿 přerůst

🇸🇰 prekonávať

🇨🇳 生长过度

🇸🇮 prerasti

🇮🇸 vaxa of mikið

🇰🇿 артық өсу

🇬🇪 განსაზღვრული ზრდა

🇦🇿 həddindən artıq böyümək

🇲🇽 creció demasiado

Word origin

The word 'overgrew' comes from the Old English term 'ofergrōwan', where 'ofer' means 'over' and 'grōwan' means 'to grow'. This reflects a literal sense of growth that surpasses normal or expected limits. The first recorded usage of 'overgrow' in its various forms can be traced back to the Middle Ages, and it has been used in both literary and agricultural contexts throughout history. The evolution of the word has allowed it to be used metaphorically as well, particularly in discussions around personal growth, competition, or dominion in various fields. Over time, 'overgrew' has also been adopted in environmental discourse, emphasizing the relationship between nature and human expansion.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #42,029, this word is among the less frequently used terms in English. While interesting to know, it's not crucial for most English learners unless needed for specific purposes.