overdressed

O1V4E1R1D2R1E1S1S1E1D2

adjective

Wearing too many clothes for the weather or the occasion.

Opposite
RareScrabble 16

Meanings

overdressed1

adjectiveoverdressed (comparative more overdressed, superlative most overdressed)

comparative more overdressed · superlative most overdressed · alternative over-dressed

  1. Wearing too many clothes for the weather or the occasion.

    Almost all babies get heat rash during hot weather. However, heat rash can occur even in cold weather if your child is overdressed either during the daytime or the nighttime.

    1994, Ira J. Chasnoff, “Heat Rash”, in Your Child: A Medical Guide, page 297
  2. Wearing clothes too formal or too elaborate for the occasion.

    "I was worried you might think I am overdressed," Sheinna replied in a small voice.

    2012, Barbara Cartland, Love and the Clans (The Pink Collection; 89), →ISBN
    1 more example

    Not, a thousand times not, that she should be overdressed. An overdressed Angel is a contradiction in terms. We associate not angelic attributes with the gorgeous attire and plenipotent jewellery of a Houndsditch Hebrewess. Just as the man who is got up in the loudest of loud costumes, and hangs out as a sort of Christmas tree, with incongruous braveries and charms and nicknacks pendent all over, we are apt to deem not a gentleman, but a gent.

    1870 October, Perceval Picard, “House Angel in Trim Array”, in The New Monthly Magazine, volume 147, number 598, page 387

overdressed2

verb

alternative over-dressed

  1. participlepastsimple past and past participle of overdress

Synonyms & antonyms

Opposite

adjectivedressed too elaborately

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

overdressed · adjective

  1. Proto-Indo-European*úp
  2. Proto-Indo-European*upér
  3. Proto-Germanic*uber
  4. Old Englishofer-
  5. Middle Englishover-
  6. Englishover-
  7. Englishdressed
  8. Englishoverdressed

From over- + dressed.

Full word history & related roots →

overdressed · verb

  1. Proto-Indo-European*úp
  2. Proto-Indo-European*upér
  3. Proto-Germanic*uber
  4. Old Englishofer-
  5. Middle Englishover-
  6. Englishover-
  7. Proto-Indo-European*dwóh₁
  8. Proto-Indo-European*trísinflu.
  9. Proto-Indo-European*d(w)is-
  10. Proto-Italic*dis-
  11. Latindīs-
  12. Proto-Indo-European*h₃reǵ-
  13. Proto-Indo-European*h₃reǵtós
  14. Proto-Italic*rektos
  15. Latinrēctus
  16. Latindīrēctus
  17. Vulgar Latin*dīrēctiāre
  18. Old Frenchdrecier
  19. Middle Englishdressen
  20. Englishdress
  21. Englishoverdress
  22. Englishoverdressed

From overdress + -ed.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

overdressed. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/overdressed

MLA

“overdressed.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/overdressed. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “overdressed,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/overdressed.

Source: overdressed on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.