overreach
Americanverb (used with object)
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overreaches,
present (3rd person singular)
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overreached,
past participle, past
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overreaching
present participle
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to reach or extend over or beyond.
The shelf overreached the nook and had to be planed down.
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to go beyond, as a thing aimed at or sought.
an arrow that had overreached the target.
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to stretch to excess, as by a straining effort.
to overreach one's arm and strain a muscle.
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to defeat (oneself ) by overdoing matters, often by excessive eagerness or cunning.
In trying to promote disunity he had overreached himself.
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to strain or exert (oneself or itself ) to the point of exceeding the purpose.
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to get the better of, especially by deceit or trickery; outwit.
Every time you deal with them you wonder if they're overreaching you.
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to overtake.
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Obsolete. to overpower.
verb (used without object)
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overreaches,
present (3rd person singular)
-
overreached,
past participle, past
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overreaching
present participle
-
to reach or extend over something.
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to reach too far.
In grabbing for the rope he overreached and fell.
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to cheat others.
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(of a running or walking horse) to strike, or strike and injure, the forefoot with the hind foot.
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Nautical. to sail on a tack longer than is desirable or was intended; overstand.
verb
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(tr) to defeat or thwart (oneself) by attempting to do or gain too much
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(tr) to aim for but miss by going too far or attempting too much
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to get the better of (a person) by trickery
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(tr) to reach or extend beyond or over
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(intr) to reach or go too far
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(intr) (of a horse) to strike the back of a forefoot with the edge of the opposite hind foot
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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overreachsimple
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overreachessimple
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have overreachedperfect
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has overreachedperfect
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am overreachingprogressive
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are overreachingprogressive
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is overreachingprogressive
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have been overreachingperfect progressive
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has been overreachingperfect progressive
Past
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overreachedsimple
-
had overreachedperfect
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was overreachingprogressive
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were overreachingprogressive
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had been overreachingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of overreach
First recorded in 1300–50; over- + reach ( def. )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
In the end, his legal team came with little more than contortions and cartwheels, trying to twist Bianco’s overreach into existing law.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 25, 2026
My reporting indicates that investors are holding back because they want assurances the government’s take will be fair and that they will have contractual security and freedom from bureaucratic overreach.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 9, 2026
“I think you’ll see a challenge there — that there’s just been an overreach and abuse of this particular statute,” Hillman said.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 21, 2026
“He’s always been a fighter against federal regulatory overreach, and it’s clear for obvious reasons that he has an affinity for oil and gas, given its dominance in Texas,” Longanecker said.
From Salon ● Jul. 15, 2026
And he was also biding his time, waiting for Archie to overreach himself, to make a mistake.
From "The Chocolate War" by Robert Cormier
But when it overreaches, it undercuts what it claims to encourage.
From Salon ● May 13, 2025
Specktor overreaches a bit in the latter stages of the book, as he tries to show just how much 21st century filmmaking has drifted from its inclusive ’60s ethos.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 17, 2025
If Mr Abiy overreaches, Saudi Arabia may feel obliged to overcome its wariness over the Eritrean President Isaias Afewerki, and support him.
From BBC ● Nov. 7, 2023
White works methodically toward a queenside break, but switches nimbly to the other flank when his opponent overreaches: 19. a4 g5?!
From Washington Times ● Oct. 3, 2023
Few of the overreaches, but not none: Cahokia was a glaring exception.
From "1491" by Charles C. Mann
They, too, overreached, invaded lands they couldn’t conquer or couldn’t control, and brought disasters down on their citizenries.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 25, 2026
Additionally, if the Supreme Court rules that Trump overreached his authority to implement tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, businesses could boost hiring in the expectation of reduced levies.
From Barron's ● Jan. 2, 2026
I returned the ball to her, but Gary overreached to poach it, driving a shot into Noah’s waiting forehand.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 23, 2025
In another game at the same tournament, she crushed former world champion Mariya Muzychuk in 23 moves after the latter overreached, inviting the Indian to employ a devastating attack.
From BBC ● Dec. 1, 2023
I tried to grasp a star, overreached, and fell.
From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin
Credit Suisse fired Barofsky in 2022 for overreaching on his mandate, and he was rehired by UBS after it took over in 2023.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 3, 2026
That makes it important for investors to distinguish between companies capable of handling the cycle and those overreaching.
From Barron's ● Dec. 3, 2025
Just days later, SpaceX responded by suing the commission and accusing the agency of “egregiously and unlawfully overreaching its authority.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 9, 2025
In its response, Harvard said it did not "take lightly" its obligation to fight antisemitism but said the government was overreaching.
From BBC ● Apr. 14, 2025
Lawrence had built his career by overreaching and then making good on his promises.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
