overextend

verb

over·​ex·​tend ˌō-vər-ik-ˈstend How to pronounce overextend (audio)
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 noun

Examples of overextend in a Sentence

He overextended a muscle in his arm.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
One common mistake startups make is overextending resources or diluting their brand. Will Fan, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025 The services often appeal to people with lower incomes, who financial experts have warned may be at risk of financially overextending themselves. Boone Ashworth, Wired News, 4 June 2025 By the end of last year, Americans were having greater difficulty in managing rising debt and, in some cases, hadn’t been that overextended since the aftermath of the Great Recession. Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 1 June 2025 One of the lessons from Denver’s last two playoff runs should be that while Aaron Gordon is perfectly capable of handling those minutes at center, overextending him is unwise. Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 30 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for overextend

Word History

First Known Use

1859, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of overextend was in 1859

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Overextend.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overextend. Accessed 8 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

overextend

verb
over·​ex·​tend ˌō-vər-ik-ˈstend How to pronounce overextend (audio)
: to extend or expand beyond a safe or reasonable point
especially : to commit (oneself) financially beyond what can be paid
overextension noun

Medical Definition

overextend

transitive verb
over·​ex·​tend ˌō-və-rik-ˈstend How to pronounce overextend (audio)
: to extend too far
overextend the back
overextension noun

More from Merriam-Webster on overextend

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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