overachieve
Americanverb (used without object)
-
to perform better or achieve more than people are generally expected to, often because of high ambition, pressure from family, etc.
-
to perform, especially academically, above the potential indicated by tests of one's mental ability or aptitude.
verb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of overachieve
1950–55; over- + achieve, or by back formation from overachiever
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:
Paradoxically, the social pressure to overachieve as a parent only seems to intensify with mothers’ increased participation in the labor market.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 8, 2026
There is hope however that China will "underpromise but overachieve" as it has with some previous targets, including on renewable energy.
From Barron's ● Nov. 4, 2025
"They'll put down a certain number, which is not great, and then they will overachieve it, and China does that a lot."
From BBC ● Oct. 28, 2025
The Diamondbacks also tell themselves they play in a way that enables them to overachieve.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 13, 2024
For outsiders, the Pacific Island teams often overachieve and Fiji beat England in the buildup to lay down a warning to pool rivals Wales and Australia.
From Washington Times ● Sep. 1, 2023
McDermott noted that the company overachieved in the second quarter with some federal deals, but was still raising its full-year forecast.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 22, 2026
Meanwhile, gross margins overachieved in the quarter, on the strength of tariff recovery.
From Barron's ● May 13, 2026
“I never knew if I overachieved or underachieved. I just did what I loved,” he said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 19, 2026
Liverpool have overachieved in recent seasons in the WSL under manager Matt Beard, raising expectations and ambitions.
From BBC ● Dec. 16, 2024
We overachieved in 2022, and quite frankly we underachieved in 2023, and I think everybody recognizes that.
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 16, 2024
It’s a confounding and destabilizing experience for overachieving women used to being on top of every detail.
From Slate ● Sep. 23, 2026
Well, we're going to, because Poland's top-flight Ekstraklasa is both sublime and ridiculous this season - chaotic, competitive and overachieving in compelling narratives.
From BBC ● Mar. 16, 2026
With a 29-17 record, entering Wednesday’s games, Boston isn’t merely overachieving in what was supposed to be a down year.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 28, 2026
That, and getting Sophia, the beautiful, overachieving sad girl he’s been crushing on for four years, to notice him.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 1, 2025
We talked about her overachieving older siblings at university, whom she felt she had to live up to.
From "Here to Stay" by Sara Farizan
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
