01
überladen
to overload
To put too much weight or cargo on a vehicle, ship, or animal.
example
Der Lastwagen war so stark überladen, dass die Reifen fast platzten.
The truck was so badly overloaded that the tires almost burst.
überladen
to overload
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Inseparable verb
The verb 'überladen' (to overload) is inseparable. The prefix 'über-' stays firmly attached to the verb 'laden' (to load) in all sentence forms and is not placed at the end of the sentence.
EXAMPLE
Er überlädt den Anhänger mit zu viel Holz.
He overloads the trailer with too much wood.
Participle as adjective
The past participle 'überladen' is very often used as an adjective to describe a state. It then means 'too full' or 'overcrowded.'
EXAMPLE
Der Text ist mit Fremdwörtern völlig überladen.
The text is completely overloaded with foreign words.
Context clues
You can recognize the meaning from the context: If it is about vehicles and weight, the literal meaning is intended. If it is about design, texts, or rooms, the figurative meaning 'overcrowded' is intended. In the context of software development, it has a special technical meaning.
EXAMPLE
Das Schiff darf nicht mit mehr als 200 Tonnen überladen werden.
The ship must not be overloaded with more than 200 tons.
Register: technical language
The meaning in programming is purely technical language. Outside IT contexts, this use is not understood.
EXAMPLE
In dieser Programmiersprache kann man Operatoren nicht überladen.
In this programming language, you cannot overload operators.
Compare with
überladen vs clean
clean
'clean' and 'überladen' are opposites when talking about style or design. 'Clean' describes something simple, clear, and calm, without unnecessary decoration. 'Überladen' means that there are too many details, images, colors, or pieces of information, making something look cluttered or hard to take in. For a website, a poster, or a room, 'clean' fits when everything looks clear and simple. 'Überladen' fits when it looks too full.
überladen
Hannah überlädt die Folie mit zu vielen Texten und kleinen Grafiken.
Hannah overloads the slide with too much text and small graphics.
clean
Die Präsentation bleibt clean, weil sie nur wenige Farben und klare Bilder nutzt.
The presentation stays clean because it uses only a few colors and clear images.
In real life
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