overselling

Meanings

1. 1verbintransitive

   the act of praising something or someone too much so that people expect more than is really possible.

   Grammar: Used as a gerund after verbs like be, avoid, or accuse of: overselling is a problem.

   Patterns

   • be accused of overselling something
   • avoid overselling something

   The manager was accused of overselling the benefits of the new system.

   Overselling a product can lead to disappointed customers.

   She warned the team against overselling the results of the study.

2. 2verbtransitivebusiness

   the act of selling more of something than you have available or can provide.

   Grammar: Takes an object: overselling tickets means selling more tickets than there are seats.

   Patterns

   • overselling tickets
   • overselling a flight
   • overselling capacity

   Airlines often prevent overselling by asking for volunteers to take a later flight.

   The concert faced criticism for overselling seats.

   Overselling hotel rooms caused many guests to be moved.

Word forms

Common combinations

accused of overselling

The company was accused of overselling its green credentials.

overselling tickets

Overselling tickets left many fans without seats.

risk of overselling

There is a risk of overselling when demand is high.

avoid overselling

Good salespeople avoid overselling and listen instead.

Synonyms and how they differ

exaggerating

Focuses on making something seem bigger or better than it is, not necessarily for selling.

overhyping

Informal and often about media or marketing; it stresses excitement more than sales.

Opposites

Word family

oversell verb

To praise or sell something too strongly or too much.

oversold adjective

Describing something that has been praised or sold too much.

Commonly confused: overselling or underselling?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “overselling”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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