overwrite

/əʊ.vəˈɹaɪt/

//əʊ.vəˈɹaɪt// verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"overwrite" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“overwrite” is uncommon English (frequency #57,618 among 15,494 “O” headwords), classed as a verb. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#57,618
frequency rank, English
15,494
“O” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To destroy (older) data by recording new data over it.

Key facts for overwrite
PropertyValue
Headwordoverwrite
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/əʊ.vəˈɹaɪt/
Letters9
Frequency rank#57,618
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “overwrite” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). overwrite lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

overwrite is uncommon English at frequency #57,618 among 15,494 “O” headwords, classed as averb, transcribed /əʊ.vəˈɹaɪt/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 4 senses are on record.

We couldn't generate a plausible misspelling set for overwrite, since its letter sequence doesn't invite the usual edit-distance slips. Our dataset records no confusable match here, which typically means the spelling is too distinctive to be mistaken for another word.

Etymologically, the entry records: From over- + write. The correct English form is overwrite, spelled O-V-E-R-W-R-I-T-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    To destroy (older) data by recording new data over it.
  2. 2
    To cover in writing; to write over the top of.
  3. 3
    To write too much.
  4. 4
    To write in an unnecessarily complicated or florid way; to produce purple prose.

Etymology

From over- + write.

This word in other languages

sobrescribir(Español)écraser(Français)überschreiben(Deutsch)

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "overwrite"?
"overwrite" is spelled O-V-E-R-W-R-I-T-E. The IPA pronunciation is /əʊ.vəˈɹaɪt/.
What does "overwrite" mean?
As a verb, "overwrite" means: To destroy (older) data by recording new data over it.
How do you pronounce "overwrite"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "overwrite" is /əʊ.vəˈɹaɪt/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "overwrite"?
From over- + write. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “overwrite”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is O-V-E-R-W-R-I-T-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /əʊ.vəˈɹaɪt/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words

Other uncommon English words near this rank

Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list