Meaning & use
overhung
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“overhung” is a form of “overhang”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
verbtransitive or intransitive
Past tense and past participle of overhang: to stick out above something so that it hangs over it.
Grammar: Often takes an object: branches overhung the path.
Patterns
- something overhung something
- be overhung by something
Thick branches overhung the narrow lane and blocked the sun.
The cliff overhung the beach and gave shelter from the rain.
The balcony overhung the street and dripped water on passers-by.
adjectivecomparable
Covered or shadowed by something that hangs or sticks out above it.
Grammar: Often followed by with or by: a doorway overhung with ivy.
Patterns
- overhung with something
- overhung by something
The old cottage was overhung by tall willow trees.
They walked along an overhung path that stayed cool all summer.
The doorway, overhung with vines, was almost hidden.
verbtransitivefigurativeliterary
Past tense and past participle of overhang in a figurative sense: to threaten or hang over someone or something like a worry.
Grammar: The threat is the subject: uncertainty overhung the talks.
Patterns
- something overhung something
Fear of layoffs overhung the entire office for months.
A cloud of debt overhung the company's future.
Word forms
| base form | overhang |
|---|---|
| third person singular | overhangs |
| -ing form | overhanging |
Common combinations
- overhung with ivy
- The wall was overhung with ivy and moss.
- overhung by trees
- The riverbank was overhung by trees.
- overhung the road
- A huge oak overhung the road.
- overhung the water
- Branches overhung the water and trailed in the current.
- overhung the meeting
- The threat of strikes overhung the meeting.
Synonyms and how they differ
- jutted
- Jutted means stuck out sharply, but it does not suggest that something is above another thing.
- shaded
- Shaded names the result, blocking the light, but not how it is done, which overhung makes clear.
- loomed
- Loomed suggests something large and threatening appearing in view, while overhung is more neutral and physical.
- projected
- Projected is more general and more technical, with no suggestion of hanging over something below.
Word family
Commonly confused: overhung or overhanged?
overhung vs overhanged
Overhung is the standard past form of overhang; overhanged is rare and not recommended. Do not confuse it with the legal sense of hanged for execution.
Practice
The stone wall was ____ with ivy, so the gate was hard to see.
Choose one answer.
Overhung with is the correct past participle used as an adjective. Overhanged is not standard, and the other forms do not fit after was.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “overhung”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.