To overstate something is to talk about it in a way that makes it seem more important, more serious, or bigger than it really is.

To overstate something把某件事overstate is to talk about it in a way就是用一種講法來說它 that makes it seem more important, more serious, or bigger than it really is讓它聽起來比實際上更重要、更嚴重，或更大。

You overstate a problem, a success, a danger, or a number. It is close to "exaggerate," though overstate often sounds a bit more careful and shows up in writing.

You overstate你可以overstate a problem, a success, a danger, or a number一個問題、一項成功、一種危險，或一個數字。It is close to "exaggerate,"這個字跟"exaggerate"（誇大）很接近，though overstate often sounds a bit more careful and shows up in writing不過overstate聽起來比較拘謹一點，也比較常出現在書面文字裡。

A set phrase is "it is hard to overstate how important this is" — meaning it really is that important, so you are saying you are not going too far.

A set phrase is一個固定的用法是 "it is hard to overstate how important this is""it is hard to overstate how important this is"（這件事重要到怎麼強調都不為過）——meaning it really is that important意思是這件事真的就是那麼重要，so you are saying you are not going too far所以你其實是在說自己並沒有講過頭。

The opposite is understate: make it sound smaller or less serious than it is.

The opposite is understate相反詞是understate：make it sound smaller or less serious than it is讓事情聽起來比實際上更小、更不嚴重。

Though actually, people use overstate more for claims and numbers than for wild stories. If someone invents a whole tale, we more often say they exaggerated, or they lied.

Though actually不過其實，people use overstate more for claims and numbers人們用overstate比較常是講主張和數字，than for wild stories而不是講誇張的故事。If someone invents a whole tale如果有人整個編出一個故事，we more often say they exaggerated, or they lied我們比較常會說他exaggerated（誇大），或說他說謊了。

You overstate a thing; you do not usually "overstate to someone" the way you tell someone.

You overstate a thing你是overstate一件「事情」；you do not usually "overstate to someone" the way you tell someone不會像tell someone那樣講成"overstate to someone"。