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

The fastest way to make the backlash a certainty is to overreach. —Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 27 Nov. 2024

There’s a difference between overreaching and more dangerous behaviors. —Zak Doffman, Forbes, 25 Nov. 2024

Unfortunately, an overreaching renovation of the interior didn’t leave much more intact than the whimsical floor mosaics depicting the bora and the other winds of the Adriatic. —Taras Grescoe, Travel + Leisure, 23 Nov. 2024

The function of government is to protect the citizens from an overreaching government. —Mike Gottlieb, Sun Sentinel, 20 Sep. 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