overspend

American  

[oh-ver-spend] / ˌoʊ vərˈspɛnd /

verb (used without object)

overspends, present (3rd person singular) overspent, past participle, past overspending present participle

1. to spend more than one can afford.

   Receiving a small inheritance, she began to overspend alarmingly.

---

verb (used with object)

overspends, present (3rd person singular) overspent, past participle, past overspending present participle

1. to spend in excess of.

   He was overspending his yearly salary by several thousand dollars.

2. to spend beyond one's means (used reflexively).

   When the bills arrived, he realized he had foolishly overspent himself.

3. to wear out; exhaust.

overspend British  

verb

1. to spend in excess of (one's desires or what one can afford or is allocated)

2. (tr; usually passive) to wear out; exhaust

---

noun

1. the amount by which someone or something is overspent

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

• overspending
  present
• overspent
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• overspend
  simple
• overspends
  simple
• have overspent
  perfect
• has overspent
  perfect
• are overspending
  progressive
• am overspending
  progressive
• is overspending
  progressive
• have been overspending
  perfect progressive
• has been overspending
  perfect progressive

Past

• overspent
  simple
• had overspent
  perfect
• was overspending
  progressive
• were overspending
  progressive
• had been overspending
  perfect progressive

Future

• will overspend
  simple
• will have overspent
  perfect
• will be overspending
  progressive
• will have been overspending
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of overspend

First recorded in 1580–90; over- + spend

Example Sentences

The Gillies Report said university bosses and its governing body failed multiple times to identify the worsening crisis and continued to overspend instead of taking action.

From BBC • Jun. 16, 2026

I either overspend on food items, failing to take advantage of hidden deals as I frantically yet desperately attempt to restock my kitchen.

From Salon • May 30, 2026

While I was happy with the shift in my priorities, I did find myself easily tempted to overspend, just as I had with going out.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

Although a maximum 12-point penalty could have been imposed, the committee worked down based on Leicester's percentage overspend and settled on six in light of the club's "improving financial position" over the assessment period.

From BBC • Feb. 19, 2026

I am never called anything but Mollie, except when I overspend my allowance, and mother feels it her duty to scold me.

From The Fortunes of the Farrells by Vaizey, George de Horne, Mrs.