overgrown

/ˌəʊvəˈɡrəʊn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌəʊvərˈɡrəʊn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌō-vər-ˈgrōn/ (ame, mw)

overgrown — adjective

  • overgrownpositive
  • more overgrowncomparative
  • most overgrownsuperlative

1. describing a place or object that has become hard to use or see because thick pl

1.形容詞B2
釋義

describing a place or object that has become hard to use or see because thick plants have spread all over it.

例句

The path behind Omar's house was overgrown with wet grass.

be overgrown with + plant noun

Lien cleared an overgrown garden before her grandparents came for lunch.

attributive: overgrown + place noun

同義詞
  • weedy

    focuses on weeds being present, not the whole place being taken over

  • untended

    broader; can mean nobody has cared for the place in any way

  • untrimmed

    narrower; mainly says the plants need cutting back

反義詞
  • well-kept

    carefully maintained and kept neat

  • trimmed

    cut back neatly, especially of hedges, grass, or bushes

文法句型

overgrown + noun

be overgrown with + plants

用法筆記

Most often used for gardens, paths, walls, and buildings. When the plants themselves are named, it is commonly followed by 'with'. Distinguish from sense 2, where the thing itself has grown too large.

常見錯誤

❌The yard is overgrown by weeds.
✅The yard is overgrown with weeds.
💡Use 'with' for the plants covering a place.

2. describing a living thing or body part that has become bigger or longer than is

2.形容詞B2
釋義

describing a living thing or body part that has become bigger or longer than is healthy, useful, or expected.

例句

Elena moved the overgrown goldfish to a larger tank downstairs.

overgrown + living thing

Owen trimmed his overgrown bangs before the class photo.

overgrown + hair / nails / roots

同義詞
  • oversized

    more general; can describe manufactured things as well as living ones

  • enlarged

    more formal, especially for body parts in medical contexts

  • overlarge

    formal and less common; focuses on size rather than growth

反義詞

文法句型

overgrown + noun

be overgrown

用法筆記

Usually comes before a noun such as 'puppy', 'roots', 'hair', or 'tonsils'. Distinguish from sense 1, which is about a place being covered by plants rather than the thing's own size.

3. used critically for an adult who still behaves in a silly, childish, or emotiona

3.形容詞C1
釋義

used critically for an adult who still behaves in a silly, childish, or emotionally immature way.

例句

The referee warned two overgrown schoolboys who kept pushing each other.

insulting use: overgrown + childish noun

Lien called her uncle an overgrown child after his loud sulk.

describe someone as an overgrown child

同義詞
  • childish

    the closest neutral equivalent; criticises immature behaviour

  • immature

    broader; can describe emotional judgment as well as silly behaviour

  • infantile

    stronger and more disapproving than 'childish'

反義詞
  • mature

    showing adult self-control and judgment

  • grown-up

    informal opposite emphasizing adult behaviour

文法句型

an overgrown + child noun

describe someone as an overgrown + noun

用法筆記

Usually appears before nouns such as 'child', 'schoolboy', or 'teenager' in informal criticism. Distinguish from sense 2, which is about physical size rather than immaturity.

常見錯誤

❌My cousin is overgrown because he is 190 centimetres tall.
✅My cousin is just very tall.
💡This sense criticises childish behaviour, not physical height.