overwrite

American  

[oh-ver-rahyt] / ˌoʊ vərˈraɪt /

verb (used with object)

overwrote, overwritten, overwriting

1. to write in too elaborate, burdensome, diffuse, or prolix a style.

   He overwrites his essays to the point of absurdity.

2. to write in excess of the requirements, especially so as to defeat the original intention.

   That young playwright tends to overwrite her big scenes.

3. to write on or over; cover with writing.

   a flyleaf overwritten with a dedication.

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verb (used without object)

overwrote, overwritten, overwriting

1. to write too elaborately.

   The problem with so many young authors is that they tend to overwrite.

overwrite British  

/ ˌəʊvəˈraɪt /

verb

1. to write (something) in an excessively ornate or prolix style

2. to write too much about (someone or something)

3. to write on top of (other writing)

4. to record on a storage medium, such as a magnetic disk, thus destroying what was originally recorded there

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Etymology

Origin of overwrite

First recorded in 1690–1700; over- + write

Example Sentences

He waxed poetic when it didn’t help his prose and overwrote shamelessly.

From The Wall Street Journal

But, according to the force, the footage only spanned back a month before it was overwritten.

From BBC

After queuing, Southern said her mum was told by staff they could not find her booking and discovered her travel agents had "overwritten" it.

From BBC

In more than 250 of these, the incident had not been recorded, there was a system fault, the footage was of an unusable quality, or it had already been overwritten.

From BBC

There’s no denying “Goat” has a vibrant aesthetic, but that alone can’t overwrite its defects.

From Los Angeles Times