🔠 To print over 🪙 A double mark

to overstrike

7.7

To print a new letter or symbol directly on top of an existing one

verb
/ˈoʊvərˌstraɪk/

Specialized

: sobrescribir

On early computers, you could overstrike a hyphen and a vertical bar to make a plus sign.

Examples

The typist had to overstrike certain letters to create accented characters.
Some old printers allowed users to overstrike text for special formatting.
I will overstrike the old text with the new one.
She overstrikes the errors in her manuscript.
To correct the mistakes in the document, the editor decided to overstrike the wrong words and write the correct ones above.
In order to highlight the changes, the artist will overstrike the original design with bold colors.
When formatting the text, the printer allows you to overstrike existing characters for a smoother appearance.

Synonyms

to superimpose

vsto overstrike

24 6.7

To put one thing on top of another so both are visible

puts new characters directly atop existing ones often hiding them

to print over

vsto overstrike

Specialized

6.0

To put new text or color on something that already has a design

places new characters exactly on top of existing marks

Antonyms

to erase

144 1.6

Remove marks, writing, or digital files so they are no longer visible

Surface Forms

overstrike infinitive

overstriking present participle

overstrikes third person singular

overstruck past

overstruck past participle

Morphology

overstrike = strike (transparent) = over + strike

The verb is a clear combination of the productive prefix 'over-' (on top of/again) and the verb 'strike' (to make an impression), so learners who know both parts can infer the meaning.

Etymology

Overstrike comes from the parts over- (meaning 'on top') and strike (meaning 'to hit' or 'to stamp'). It means to print or type one mark directly on top of another, which is why people used this word for typing or stamping characters over existing ones.