oversell

English

Etymology

From over- +‎ sell.

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /oʊ.vɚ.sɛl/

  • Audio (Southern England):

    (file)

• Rhymes: -ɛl

Verb

oversell (third-person singular simple present oversells, present participle overselling, simple past and past participle oversold)

1. (transitive) To agree to sell more of something than one can supply.

   Coordinate terms: overcommit, overpromise

2. (transitive) To be too eager in attempting to sell something.
3. (transitive) To praise something to excess.

   I don't want to oversell it, but you've got to check out that new restaurant on Third Street.

4. (transitive, obsolete) To sell for a higher price than; to exceed in sale price.
   • 1617, John Fletcher, “The Chances”, in Comedies and Tragedies […], London: […] Humphrey Robinson, […], and for Humphrey Moseley […], published 1647, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals):

     One whose beauty / Would oversell all Italy

Related terms

• sell past the close
• undersell

Anagrams

• Voellers, verolles