# overshadowed

/ˌoʊvɝˈʃædoʊd/ (US) · /ˌəʊvəʃˈædəʊd/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/overshadowed
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

feeling less important or less successful because someone else is much more impressive than you. It also describes a situation where one bad thing makes people forget about all the good things.

For teachers: appearing less significant, impressive, or prominent by comparison with something else. Often used to describe a person's achievements being eclipsed by a peer or a positive event being ruined by a negative one.

## Examples

- He felt overshadowed by his famous older sister.
- The team's impressive victory was overshadowed by the news that their star player had suffered a serious injury.
- Despite her groundbreaking research in physics, her contributions were frequently overshadowed by the more flamboyant personalities of her male colleagues during the mid-century scientific boom.

## Usage notes

- Participial adjective; frequently follows linking verbs like 'feel', 'be', or 'become'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.