Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

oversell

/oʊ.vɚ.sɛl/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.04 in modern English

Syllables: over-sell
IPA: /oʊ.vɚ.sɛl/

11

Scrabble Score

8

Letters

3

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To agree to sell more of something than one can supply.

Transitive verb

verb

To be too eager in attempting to sell something.

Transitive verb

verb

To praise something to excess.

Transitive verb

verb

To sell for a higher price than; to exceed in sale price.

Obsolete; Transitive verb

Example Sentences

"I don't want to oversell it, but [second clause]"
"I don't want to oversell it, but you've got to check out that new restaurant on Third Street."
"One whose beauty / Would oversell all Italy"

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *úp Proto-Indo-European *-er Proto-Indo-European *upér Proto-Germanic *uber Old English ofer- Middle English over- English over- English sell English oversell From over- + sell.

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /oʊ.vɚ.sɛl/

Usage

Inflected Forms

oversells (present, singular) overselling (participle, present) oversold (participle, past) oversold (past)

Derived Forms

overseller

Frequently Paired Words

upsell overcommit overpromise

Antonyms

undersell

Rhymes With

well as well tell hell lol sell hotel cell fell bell el personnel

Questions

How do you pronounce oversell?: The recorded pronunciation is /oʊ.vɚ.sɛl/.
What does oversell mean?: To agree to sell more of something than one can supply.
Where does oversell come from?: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *úp Proto-Indo-European *-er Proto-Indo-European *upér Proto-Germanic *uber Old English ofer- Middle English over- English over- English sell English oversell From over- + sell.

How to pronounce oversell

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “oversell”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/oʊ.vɚ.sɛl/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “oversell”.
Repeat and practice — Say “oversell” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.