overbuild

[ oh-ver-bild ]

verb (used with object)

, o·ver·built, o·ver·build·ing.

1. to erect too many buildings in (an area).
2. to cover or surmount with a building or structure.
3. to build (a structure) on too great or elaborate a scale.

verb (used without object)

, o·ver·built, o·ver·build·ing.

1. to erect too many buildings in an area.

overbuild

/ ˌəʊvəˈbɪld /

verb

1. to build over or on top of
2. to erect too many buildings in (an area)
3. to build too large or elaborately

Word History and Origins

Origin of overbuild¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; over- + build

Example Sentences

“It would be hard to overbuild downtown given those factors.”

From Los Angeles Times

When you are in this quarterly apparel fashion business, you overbuild and you are discounting.

From The Verge

In response, a large body of exercise science shows, our bodies initiate a variety of cellular mechanisms that fix the tears and strains and, in most cases, overbuild the affected parts.

From Seattle Times

Meanwhile, the unmanageable domestic debt racked up to overbuild infrastructure at home has financial markets around the world quaking.

From Washington Post

Mohit Chhabra, a senior scientist with the Natural Resources Defense Council, said that offshore wind “can deflect overbuild of storage and solar, thereby saving money and being more environmentally friendly.”

From Scientific American