Meaning & use
Overwriting
Last updated
Replacing existing data, text, or content with new material, often erasing the original in the process.
See it in a sentence
Be careful not to overwrite the original file when saving your changes.
The old memo was accidentally lost after a coworker's edits ended up overwriting it.
A note on using this word
In creative writing, 'overwriting' also describes an overly elaborate or wordy style that weighs down the prose.
Words with a similar meaning
replacingsuperseding
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
Another way to use it
2. verb
Writing in an excessively elaborate, wordy, or dramatic style.
The editor flagged several passages for overwriting, urging the author to trim the purple prose.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “Overwriting”, then compare your use with the examples above.
Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.