overshoot

[oh-ver-shoot, oh-ver-shoot]

verb (used with object)

overshot, overshooting 

1. to shoot or go over, beyond, or above; miss.

   The missile overshot its target.

2. to pass or go by or beyond (a point, limit, etc.).

   to overshoot a stop sign.

3. to shoot or pour down over.

   turbulent water overshooting the top of the dam.

4. to overreach (oneself or itself); go further than is intended or proper; go too far.

   It looked as though his self-confidence had overshot itself.

5. (of an aircraft or pilot) to fly too far along (a landing strip) in attempting to land.

verb (used without object)

overshot, overshooting 

1. to fly or go beyond.

2. to shoot over or above a mark.

noun

1. a shooting beyond a specified point or target.

   two overshoots in the missile test series.

2. the amount of excessive distance in a trajectory or route.

   a two-mile overshoot on the artillery range.

overshoot

/ ˌəʊvəˈʃuːt /

verb

1. to shoot or go beyond (a mark or target)

2. to cause (an aircraft) to fly or taxi too far along (a runway) during landing or taking off, or (of an aircraft) to fly or taxi too far along a runway

3. (tr) to pass swiftly over or down over, as water over a wheel

noun

1. an act or instance of overshooting

2. the extent of such overshooting

3. a momentary excessive response of an electrical or mechanical system

Word History and Origins

Origin of overshoot¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English oversheten, overshoten; over- + shoot ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

The overshoot has raised expectations that treasury chief Rachel Reeves will announce new measures to contain borrowing when she presents her budget to parliament on Nov. 26.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

With global temperatures expected to exceed 1.5°C, the report -- produced by 160 scientists across 87 institutions in 23 countries -- urges governments to limit any temperature overshoot to prevent further irreversible changes.

Read more on Science Daily

Although there have been no plane crashes in Nigeria for several years, there have been cases of aircraft overshooting the runway and tyres bursting during landing.

Read more on BBC

"Overall, there's more undershooting than overshooting of fertility ideals," she says.

Read more on BBC

Things did not go according to plan with the pair experiencing an overshoot that left Letisha with a nasty shoulder injury.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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• choke 
• deluge 
• inundate 
• invade 
• overflow 
• overwhelm 
• ravage