overmany
Definition
Adjective
Overmany means too many; excessive in number. It describes a quantity that exceeds what is necessary, desirable, or manageable.
Usage Examples
- (Too many students for the space.)
- (An excessive number of mistakes.)
- (More apples than she could use.)
Advanced Usage
- "overmany to do something": used with an infinitive to indicate an excessive quantity prevents an action.
- There were overmany applicants to interview in one day. (So many that interviewing all was impossible.)
- "overmany for something": indicates an excess relative to a specific purpose.
- The supplies were overmany for the small group. (More supplies than the group needed.)
Variants and Related Words
- Overmuch (adj/adv): too much; excessive.
- He spent overmuch time on the first question. (Too much time.)
- Overabundant (adj): present in excessive quantity.
- The garden had an overabundant harvest of tomatoes. (An excessive harvest.)
Synonyms
- Excessive: more than is necessary or normal.
- Superfluous: more than is needed; unnecessary.
- Surplus: an amount that is extra or more than required.
Related Idioms
- A glut of: an excessively large supply.
- There was a glut of oil on the market. (Too much oil.)
- More than enough: an abundant or excessive amount.
- We had more than enough food for the party. (An excessive amount.)
Usage Notes
- is considered archaic or literary in modern English. It is rarely used in everyday conversation, where is preferred.
- It is typically used in formal, poetic, or rhetorical contexts to emphasize excess.
- Unlike , often carries a tone of disapproval or lament about the quantity.