Overwrite - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
Definition:
To write over existing data, replacing it with new content.
Synonyms:
replace, supersede, override
Part of Speech:
verb
Antonyms:
preserve, retain
Common Collocations:
overwrite a file, overwrite data, accidentally overwrite
Derivatives:
overwriting, overwritten
Usage Tips:
Ensure you back up files before you overwrite them to avoid losing important data.
Common Phrases:
overwrite the past, overwrite history, overwrite memories
Etymology:
Derived from "over-" (excessively) + "write," first used in computing contexts in the mid-20th century.
Examples:
- 1. Be careful not to overwrite your essay draft before saving it.
- 2. The system will automatically overwrite old logs if the storage is full.
- 3. She accidentally hit "save" and overwrote her original document.
- 4. You can’t recover files once you overwrite them on this drive.