to take or carry too far; do to excess to exaggerate, overelaborate, or overplay to cook or bake too long - overdo it, overdo things ⇒
to overtax one's strength, capacity, etc
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
o•ver•do /ˌoʊvɚˈdu/USA pronunciation
v. [~ + object], -did, -done, -do•ing.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- to do too much of or to;
overindulge in;
be extreme about:to overdo the charm with the boss. - to overact (a part);
exaggerate. - [~ + it/things]
- to strain (oneself);
make too many demands on (one's physical strength):He overdid it with all those exercises. - to do (something) in an exaggerated or self-important way.
- to strain (oneself);
- to cook too much;
overcook:The meat had been overdone.
o•ver•do
(ō′vər do̅o̅′),USA pronunciation v., -did, -done, -do•ing.
v.t.
v.i.
o′ver•do′er, n.
v.t.
- to do to excess;
overindulge in:to overdo dieting. - to carry to excess or beyond the proper limit:He puts on so much charm that he overdoes it.
- to overact (a part);
exaggerate. - to overtax the strength of;
fatigue;
exhaust. - to cook too much or too long;
overcook:Don't overdo the hamburgers.
v.i.
- to do too much;
go to an extreme:Exercise is good but you mustn't overdo.
- Middle English overdon, Old English oferdōn. See over-, do1 bef. 1000
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
'overdo' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):