Definition

Describes a situation where fish have been caught in such large numbers that their population has decreased significantly and may not be able to recover.

Example

The lake has become overfished, leading to a decline in the local fish population.

Conversation

Did you hear that many fish species are being overfished lately?

Yeah, it's really concerning for the ocean's health.

I just hope they take action before it's too late.

Absolutely, we need to protect our marine life.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Definition

To catch too many fish from a body of water, leading to a decrease in fish populations.

Example

The local fishermen were warned that they had overfished the lake and needed to allow it to recover.

Tense Forms

Conversation

Have you heard about how many fish have been overfished lately?

Yeah, it's pretty alarming. We need to be more careful with our oceans.

I didn't realize it was such a big issue until recently.

Root Explanation

Overfished → It is formed from "over-" (meaning excessively) and "fish" (from Old English "fisc", meaning fish) and the suffix "-ed" (indicating a past action). The word "overfished" means that fish have been caught excessively, leading to depletion of fish populations.

Memory Tip

Think of 'over' meaning excessively and 'fish' referring to the aquatic creatures. This helps you remember that 'overfished' means fish have been caught too much.

Visually Confused Words