overextend

verb

over·​ex·​tend ˌō-vər-ik-ˈstend 

overextended; overextending; overextends

transitive verb

: to extend or expand beyond a safe or reasonable point

especially : to commit (oneself) financially beyond what can be paid

overextension

ˌō-vər-ik-ˈsten(t)-shən 

noun

Examples of overextend in a Sentence

He overextended a muscle in his arm.

Recent Examples on the Web

Russia is overextended in its nearly three years of war in Ukraine. —Tracy Wilkinson, Los Angeles Times, 8 Dec. 2024

Press releases, done well, play a key role in codifying the history and accomplishments of an organization, help overextended reporters and establish a message platform. —Michele Schiavoni, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024

But 2024 just isn’t Assad’s year: Russia has impoverished and overextended itself fighting Ukraine, and Hezbollah is busy nursing groin injuries inflicted by Israel. —Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 2 Dec. 2024

The surge has prompted a bear-bull debate about whether the stock is overextended given the company’s profit trajectory. —Dade Hayes, Deadline, 17 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1859, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing overextend

• overextend oneself

Kids Definition

overextend

verb

over·​ex·​tend ˌō-vər-ik-ˈstend 

: to extend or expand beyond a safe or reasonable point

especially : to commit (oneself) financially beyond what can be paid

overextension

-ˈsten-shən 

noun

Medical Definition

overextend

transitive verb

over·​ex·​tend ˌō-və-rik-ˈstend 

: to extend too far

overextend the back

overextension

-ˈsten-chən 

noun