overreach

verb

over·​reach ˌō-vər-ˈrēch 

ˌō-və-

overreached; overreaching; overreaches

transitive verb

1

: to reach above or beyond : overtop

2

: to defeat (oneself) by seeking to do or gain too much

3

: to get the better of especially in dealing and bargaining and typically by unscrupulous or crafty methods

intransitive verb

1

of a horse : to strike the forefoot with the front part of the hind foot

2

a

: to go to excess

b

: exaggerate

3

: to overreach oneself

overreach

ˈō-vər-ˌrēch 

ˈō-və-

ˌō-vər-ˈrēch 

ˌō-və-

noun

overreacher

ˈō-vər-ˌrē-chər 

ˈō-və-

ˌō-vər-ˈrē-chər

ˌō-və-

noun

Synonyms

• fox
• outfox
• outmaneuver
• outslick
• outsmart
• outthink
• outwit

Examples of overreach in a Sentence

She overreaches in her latest book, and her argument is not convincing.

The company overreached itself and ran out of money after one year.

Recent Examples on the Web

Can real-time personalization strike the right balance between relevance and overreach? —Gary Drenik, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024

Democrats are likely to dedicate their 215 votes to House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), leaving Johnson to scrabble for an overreaching three votes to secure the support of the 218 members required to win the position, assuming every representative is present. —Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 18 Dec. 2024

Netanyahu’s supporters view the charges as the result of bias and overreach by the justice system. —Tia Goldenberg, Los Angeles Times, 10 Dec. 2024

But overreach in this area can do real damage to the relationship between the American military and the public. —Kori Schake, The Atlantic, 30 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Kids Definition

overreach

verb

over·​reach -ˈrēch 

1

: to reach above or beyond : overtop

2

: to defeat (oneself) by trying to do or gain too much

3

: outwit, trick

4

: to reach or go too far

overreacher noun

Medical Definition

overreach

intransitive verb

over·​reach -ˈrēch 

of a horse

: to strike the toe of the hind foot against the heel or quarter of the forefoot

Legal Definition

overreach

transitive verb

over·​reach ˌō-vər-ˈrēch 

: to make (someone or something) the subject of overreaching

this uncounseled defendant was…overreached by the prosecution's submission of misinformation to the court

—Townsend v. Burke, 334 U.S. 736 (1948)

must determine whether it overreached privilege

—National Law Journal