overbuild

verb

over·​build ˌō-vər-ˈbild How to pronounce overbuild (audio)
overbuilt ˌō-vər-ˈbilt How to pronounce overbuild (audio) ; overbuilding

transitive verb

: to build beyond the actual demand of

intransitive verb

: to build houses or commercial developments in excess of demand

Examples of overbuild in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Trouble is, barriers to entry are also low—and that’s led the sector to overbuild in the past. — Brett Owens, Forbes, 25 Jan. 2023 Additionally, years of rampant demand spurred builders to overbuild in the early 2000s, flooding the country with a home surplus. — Erik Lundh, CNN, 22 Nov. 2022

Word History

First Known Use

1945, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of overbuild was in 1945

Rhymes for overbuild

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Browse Nearby Words

over budget
overbuild
overbulky
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Cite this Entry

“Overbuild.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overbuild. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.

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