Word
oversized
Phoneticsover·sized
US/ˈoʊvɝˌsaɪzd/
UK/ˌəʊvəsˈaɪzd/
Definition
adj. much larger than the usual size. You often use this to describe clothes that are meant to look big and loose.
adj. larger than the standard or expected size for a specific category. Often used to describe garments designed with a loose, voluminous fit.
Examples
“She loves wearing oversized sweaters in the winter.”
“The fashion brand is famous for its oversized coats that create a modern, relaxed silhouette.”
“While some critics argued the oversized proportions of the sculpture overwhelmed the small gallery, others felt the scale was necessary to convey the artist's message about industrial growth.”
Examples
simple
“She loves wearing oversized sweaters in the winter.”
contextual
“The fashion brand is famous for its oversized coats that create a modern, relaxed silhouette.”
complex
“While some critics argued the oversized proportions of the sculpture overwhelmed the small gallery, others felt the scale was necessary to convey the artist's message about industrial growth.”
Usage
Can be used both attributively before a noun and predicatively after a linking verb.
Real-World Examples
“More than a dozen of them are dressed in oversized men's shirts and loose trousers to show they are as strong as men.” “The team’s shirts turned out to be a more timeless design than the loud, oversized suits that Marti Pellow’s crew wore the day they unveiled them.” Etymology
From over- + sized.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/oversized