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Glite Dictionary
🏙️ Too much building 🏢 To build too much 🏗️ To build above
to overbuild

to overbuild

6.5
To build new floors on top of an existing building
  • verb
  • /ˌoʊvərˈbɪld/
  • Specialized
translation icon : sobreconstruir
  • Don't overbuild!

Examples

  • The city decided to overbuild the old library by adding two new floors.

  • Developers want to overbuild the shopping center with luxury apartments.

  • It is common in urban areas to overbuild existing structures to maximize space.

  • They plan to overbuild the site with new apartments.

  • The city plans to overbuild the area with new apartment complexes to accommodate the growing population.

  • Due to the demand for more housing, developers decided to overbuild on the site of the old factory.

  • Local authorities warned that companies shouldn't overbuild in the region, as it may strain the existing infrastructure.

Synonyms

to overdevelop
vsto overbuild
1 4.5

To build too many houses or buildings on land, causing loss of green space

focuses on adding structures above an existing one rather than broad land development
to upbuild
vsto overbuild
6.2

To make a place bigger or stronger by adding parts

builds more structures specifically on top of or above an existing one

Antonyms

to demolish
54 3.7

Completely destroy a building or large structure

How Extended

to overbuild
  • Specialized
6.5
to extend
680 3.2
to build on
179 3.4
to add
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

overbuild infinitive
overbuilding present participle
overbuilds third person singular
overbuilt past
overbuilt past participle

Morphology

overbuild = build (transparent) = over + build

Here 'over-' has a locative/literal meaning ('above' or 'on top of') combined with 'build', yielding a literal action.

Etymology

Overbuild combines over ('above' or 'on top of') and build ('make'), so it can mean adding new floors or structures on top of an existing building. So, to overbuild is to build additional parts 'above' something already there.