overwhelming portion

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "overwhelming portion" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a significant or dominant part of something, often in contexts where the quantity or impact is notably large. Example: "The overwhelming portion of the audience expressed their support for the new policy during the meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

Canada has no equivalent free market for the overwhelming portion of its timber.

The New York Times

In the United States, private investors own the overwhelming portion of woodlands.

The New York Times

If iTunes becomes a dominant radio force, it could control an overwhelming portion of the music business.

The New Yorker

It's not an overwhelming portion of this $27 billion market, though — only about $3 billion, without public schools.

The New York Times

Despite the overthrow of President Hosni Mubarak, the military has retained an overwhelming portion of its historic authority.

The New York Times

And of course, that's what the overwhelming portion of the investment community did in the 1930s, and in the 1940s, and in the 1950s.

Yale University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

"The overwhelming portions of our assistance to Plan Colombia and to President Uribe's program is in the form of counternarcotics aid".

The New York Times

Still, overwhelming is overwhelming.

The New York Times - Arts

Portions are not overwhelming, and a special plate warming system keeps food at a palatable temperature.

The New York Times - Health

The portions aren't overwhelming, but in case of kebab-and-phyllo overdose, a restorative shot of raki, an anise-flavored liqueur served with water and ice, can help rationalize an extra round of rice pudding.

The New Yorker

The transaminase ω-TA is highly selective for the sterically less demanding methyl ketone while the monoamine oxidase MAO-N shows an overwhelming preference for the more bulky portion of the corresponding pyrrolidine.

Angewandte Chemie - International Edition

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "overwhelming portion" to emphasize not only the size but also the impact or influence of the part being described. It suggests that this part is so large that it has a significant effect on the whole.

Common error

Avoid using "overwhelming portion" when simply describing size without any implication of influence or impact. If you only want to talk about size, alternatives like "large part" or "significant section" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "overwhelming portion" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes a substantial part of a whole, emphasizing its significance due to its large size or impact. Ludwig AI shows its correct usage in different contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "overwhelming portion" is a grammatically sound noun phrase used to describe a significant part of a whole, emphasizing its impact due to its size or influence. Ludwig AI confirms its accurate usage across diverse contexts, primarily within News & Media and Academia. While "overwhelming portion" is not extremely common, it serves to highlight the noteworthy effect of a specific component. For situations where only size is relevant, simpler alternatives like "large part" might be more appropriate. When you want to convey influence, stick to "overwhelming portion".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

significant majority

Replaces 'portion' with 'majority', emphasizing the numerical dominance.

predominant share

Replaces 'overwhelming' with 'predominant' and 'portion' with 'share', highlighting the controlling part.

substantial segment

Substitutes 'overwhelming' with 'substantial' and 'portion' with 'segment', implying a large, noticeable part.

most significant part

Highlights the importance of the portion, rather than just its size.

dominant component

Uses 'component' instead of 'portion', emphasizing the role of the part within a whole.

large fraction

Uses 'fraction' instead of 'portion', focusing on the proportional aspect.

greater part

A more straightforward way to express that something constitutes the larger portion.

major part

A simpler alternative, using 'major' to convey the significance of the part.

lion's share

An idiomatic expression indicating the largest part of something.

bulk

A succinct term indicating the main mass or volume of something.

FAQs

How can I use "overwhelming portion" in a sentence?

The phrase "overwhelming portion" describes a part of something that is so large or significant that it has a major impact. For example, "An overwhelming portion of the budget was allocated to healthcare."

What can I say instead of "overwhelming portion"?

You can use alternatives like "significant majority", "substantial segment", or "large fraction" depending on the context.

Is it redundant to say "overwhelming majority"?

While "overwhelming" and "majority" both suggest a large quantity, "overwhelming majority" emphasizes the scale and impact, suggesting a dominance that is hard to ignore. It's often used to convey a sense of undeniable prevalence.

What's the difference between "overwhelming portion" and "significant portion"?

"Overwhelming portion" suggests a greater degree of dominance or impact than "significant portion". While both indicate a notable part, "overwhelming portion" implies a more pronounced effect on the whole. Consider to use other alternatives such as "major part".