Definition

To allow animals to eat grass and plants in a way that is too much, which harms the plants and land.

Example

Farmers need to manage their livestock carefully to avoid overgrazing the pastures.

Tense Forms

Conversation

I heard some farmers are worried about how their cattle overgraze the fields.

Yeah, that can really damage the land if they’re not careful.

Right? It’s important to manage that so the grass can recover.

Absolutely! Otherwise, they might lose their pasture entirely.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Overgraze → It is formed from "over-" (meaning excessively) and "graze" (from Old English *græsian*, meaning to feed on grass). The word describes the act of allowing animals to feed on grass excessively, leading to the depletion of vegetation.

Memory Tip

Think of animals feeding 'excessively' ('over-') on grass ('graze') — that's why overgraze means to let them eat too much grass.

Visually Confused Words