overelaborate

UK: /ˌəʊvərɪˈlæbərɪt/

US: (adj. ō′vər i lab′ər it; v. ō′vər i lab′ə rāt′)

Inflections of 'overelaborate' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

overelaborates

v 3rd person singular

overelaborating

v pres p

overelaborated

v past

overelaborated

v past p

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

o•ver•e•lab•o•rate  (adj. ō′vər i lab′ər it;v. ō′vər i lab′ə rāt′), adj., v., -rat•ed, -rat•ing. 
adj. 

1. excessively or fussily elaborate, ornate, detailed, etc.

v.t. 

2. to render or present with excessive or fussy detail:
   He so overelaborates his jokes that they lose their humor.

v.i. 

3. to add excessive details, as in writing or speaking:
   He overelaborates to an extent that his novels must be cut radically before being published.

• over- + elaborate

o′ver•e•lab′o•rate•ly, adv. 
o′ver•e•lab′o•ra′tion, o′ver•e•lab′o•rate•ness, n.