overweight

[ adjective oh-ver-weyt; noun oh-ver-weyt; verb oh-ver-weyt ]

adjective

1. weighing too much or more than is considered normal, proper, etc.:

   overweight luggage; an overweight patient; two letters that may be overweight.

noun

1. extra or excess weight above what law or regulation allows, as of baggage or freight:

   The overweight will cost us $12.

2. weight in excess of that considered normal, proper, healthful, etc.:

   Overweight in a child should not be neglected.

3. greater effect or importance; preponderance.

verb (used with object)

1. to weight excessively; exceed the weight limit of.
2. to give too much consideration or emphasis to; stress unduly.

overweight

adjective

1. weighing more than is usual, allowed, or healthy
2. finance
   1. having a higher proportion of one's investments in a particular sector of the market than the size of that sector relative to the total market would suggest: portfolio managers are currently overweight in bonds
   2. (of a fund etc) invested disproportionately in this way

noun

1. extra or excess weight
2. archaic.
   greater importance or effect

verb

1. to give too much emphasis or consideration to
2. to add too much weight to
3. to weigh down

Word History and Origins

Origin of overweight¹

First recorded in 1545–55; over- + weight

Example Sentences

Von Meyenn adds: "It's precisely because of this memory effect that it's so important to avoid being overweight in the first place. Because that's the simplest way to combat the yo-yo phenomenon."

From Science Daily

“I was very overweight and had hip problems and blood pressure problems,” Katz says.

From Los Angeles Times

I wouldn’t want to go on if I was overweight or wearing spandex.

From Los Angeles Times

Behind the rosy figures, Kalundborg faces many challenges, from rundown schools and low incomes to many children being overweight.

From BBC

“Sometimes they are underweight, some are overweight, and some are severely malnourished,” one doctor told the BBC.

From BBC

Related Words

• corpulent
• obese
• pudgy