Standard Lemma guide

overemphasize

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • CMU ARPABET: OW1 V ER0 EH1 M F AH0 S AY2 Z Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To place too much emphasis on; to overstate the importance of.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: big up, play up, stretch, cut it fat, exaggerate, hyperbolize, overcharge, overdo, overemphasize, overstate, three-sheet

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

place special or excessive emphasis on

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • I cannot overemphasize the importance of this book

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: overemphasise, overstress

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: overstate, exaggerate, overdraw, hyperbolize, hyperbolise, magnify, amplify

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *úp Proto-Indo-European *-er Proto-Indo-European *upér Proto-Germanic *uber Old English ofer- Middle English over- English over- English emphasize English overemphasize From over- + emphasize.

Across languages

Translations

4 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 過分強調 — place too much emphasis on
  • Chinese Mandarin: 过分强调 (guòfèn qiángdiào) — place too much emphasis on
  • Finnish: ylikorostaa — place too much emphasis on
  • Hungarian: túlhangsúlyoz — place too much emphasis on