overreach

[ oh-ver-reech ]
See synonyms for overreach on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object)
  1. to reach or extend over or beyond: The shelf overreached the nook and had to be planed down.

  2. to go beyond, as a thing aimed at or sought: an arrow that had overreached the target.

  1. to stretch to excess, as by a straining effort: to overreach one's arm and strain a muscle.

  2. to defeat (oneself) by overdoing matters, often by excessive eagerness or cunning: In trying to promote disunity he had overreached himself.

  3. to strain or exert (oneself or itself) to the point of exceeding the purpose.

  4. to get the better of, especially by deceit or trickery; outwit: Every time you deal with them you wonder if they're overreaching you.

  5. to overtake.

  6. Obsolete. to overpower.

verb (used without object)
  1. to reach or extend over something.

  2. to reach too far: In grabbing for the rope he overreached and fell.

  1. to cheat others.

  2. (of a running or walking horse) to strike, or strike and injure, the forefoot with the hind foot.

  3. Nautical. to sail on a tack longer than is desirable or was intended; overstand.

Origin of overreach

1
First recorded in 1300–50; over- + reach

Other words from overreach

  • o·ver·reach·er, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use overreach in a sentence

  • The rejection of the personhood amendment and collective-bargaining reform reflects a pushback against ideological overreaches.

    Election Day Backlash | John Avlon | November 9, 2011 | THE DAILY BEAST
  • But this falls as far short of justice as the enthusiasm of many of his admirers overreaches it.

  • Sometimes, it must be confest, this craving after pictorial novelty overreaches itself.

    Inquiries and Opinions | Brander Matthews
  • When at a slow pace they always strike their hoofs together in that way, as a horse overreaches.

    Captain Mugford | W.H.G. Kingston
  • He outwits and overreaches his foes with surpassing cunning.

  • This tendency often goes too far and overreaches its purpose of economy.

    Our Domestic Birds | John H. Robinson

British Dictionary definitions for overreach

overreach

/ (ˌəʊvəˈriːtʃ) /


verb
  1. (tr) to defeat or thwart (oneself) by attempting to do or gain too much

  2. (tr) to aim for but miss by going too far or attempting too much

  1. to get the better of (a person) by trickery

  2. (tr) to reach or extend beyond or over

  3. (intr) to reach or go too far

  4. (intr) (of a horse) to strike the back of a forefoot with the edge of the opposite hind foot

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012