WordGarden.iooverlarge
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /əʊvəˈlɑːdʒ/adjective
US
Meanings
Adjective
too large in size, scale, or extent
Beyond the definition
Something that's overlarge isn't just big. It's bigger than needed or bigger than feels right in the situation. Picture a child trying on a parent's shoes; the shoes would be overlarge for them. The word often suggests that the size causes some kind of problem, making something awkward, hard to use, or out of place. You might call a building overlarge if it looks too big for the street around it, or a meal overlarge if the portion is far more than most people could comfortably eat. It can also be used in a figurative way, as in an overlarge ego, meaning a sense of self-importance that has grown too big.
The word overlarge describes something that is larger than is reasonable, suitable, or comfortable. While "large" simply means big, "overlarge" adds the idea that the size has gone too far. It suggests excess, and it often hints that the extra size creates a problem.
You might see overlarge used for physical things: an overlarge coat hanging awkwardly on a small child, an overlarge vehicle trying to get through a narrow street, or an overlarge sign that overwhelms a small shopfront. In each case, the point is not only that the thing is big, but that it is too big for its purpose or setting.
The word can also be used in a figurative sense. An overlarge ego is not physically large, of course, but it feels swollen beyond what is healthy or reasonable. In the same way, an overlarge ambition or an overlarge influence suggests something that has grown beyond proper limits.
What makes overlarge useful is this sense of bad fit. The object, idea, or quality is not simply impressive in size; it feels disproportionate, awkward, or excessive in context. So when you call something overlarge, you are usually saying that its size goes beyond what is helpful, attractive, or appropriate.
Examples
- 1
Clothing
The child wore an overlarge jacket that hung past his knees.
- 2
Furniture
An overlarge table made the kitchen hard to move around in.
- 3
Web image
The image was overlarge for the page, so it loaded slowly.
- 4
Report emphasis
The report gives an overlarge amount of space to a fairly small problem.
See also
Similar
- oversized
- too large
- too big
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- overlarge for
- overlarge sweater
- overlarge furniture
Word family
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Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- overlargeadjective