over-engineer

/ˌəʊ.vər.en.dʒɪˈnɪər/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌoʊ.vɚ.en.dʒɪˈnɪr/ (ame, ipa)

over-engineer — verb

  • over-engineerpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • over-engineers3rd person singular
  • over-engineering-ing form
  • over-engineeredpast simple

1. to make a product, system, or process more complex and feature-heavy than it nee

1.動詞及物C1
釋義

to make a product, system, or process more complex and feature-heavy than it needs to be, so it becomes harder to use or less useful

例句

Marta over-engineered the coffee app by adding twelve screens for one order.

over-engineer + product by adding unnecessary features

The team over-engineered the lock, and customers could not open it quickly.

result: extra complexity makes the product harder to use

同義詞
  • overdesign

    the closest term, especially in product, industrial, and system design

  • overcomplicate

    broader and can describe explanations, rules, or conversations, not only designed things

  • overbuild

    focuses more on making something physically larger, heavier, or stronger than needed

  • gold-plate

    an informal business or engineering term for adding costly extras beyond the real need

反義詞
  • simplify

    focuses on removing unnecessary parts or steps

  • streamline

    emphasizes making a product or process more efficient and easier to use

文法句型

over-engineer + product/system/process

be over-engineered

用法筆記

Usually takes a product, process, system, or plan as its object. It is often critical in tone and suggests that extra features or steps create trouble instead of improving the result.

常見錯誤

❌The manager over-engineered for two hours before the meeting.
✅The manager overthought the plan for two hours before the meeting.
💡'over-engineer' is used for making a design or system too complicated, not simply thinking too much.