overwrite
verb
over·write
ˌō-vər-ˈrīt 
ˌō-və-
overwrote
ˌō-vər-ˈrōt
ˌō-və-
; overwritten
ˌō-vər-ˈri-tᵊn
ˌō-və-
; overwriting
ˌō-vər-ˈrī-tiŋ
ˌō-və-
: to write too much or in an overly elaborate style
Examples of overwrite in a Sentence
The author has a tendency to overwrite.
Recent Examples on the Web
An attorney who allows a client to continue using their phone risks spoliation as normal usage can overwrite or erase crucial data.
—
Lars Daniel, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
Webroot can securely erase files for you, overwriting them with random data three times, by default.
—PCMAG, 7 Mar. 2025
And last year another round of Shamoon attacks ripped through the Middle East, destroying thousands more machines, this time overwriting the drives with the image of the body of a 3-year-old Syrian refugee who drowned in the Mediterranean.
—Andy Greenberg, WIRED, 20 Sep. 2017
The Secure Erase feature on the Data page enables a right-click option to overwrite files and folders before deletion, thereby foiling attempts at forensic recovery.
—PCMAG, 28 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overwrite
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Lars Daniel, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
Webroot can securely erase files for you, overwriting them with random data three times, by default.
—PCMAG, 7 Mar. 2025
And last year another round of Shamoon attacks ripped through the Middle East, destroying thousands more machines, this time overwriting the drives with the image of the body of a 3-year-old Syrian refugee who drowned in the Mediterranean.
—Andy Greenberg, WIRED, 20 Sep. 2017
The Secure Erase feature on the Data page enables a right-click option to overwrite files and folders before deletion, thereby foiling attempts at forensic recovery.
—PCMAG, 28 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overwrite
Cite this Entry
“Overwrite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overwrite. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
overwrite
verb
over·write
ˌō-və(r)-ˈrīt
1
: to write over the surface of : write on top of
2
: to write too much or in an overly elaborate style
overwritten accounts of everyday events
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