overachieve
Americanverb (used without object)
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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
A lot of them overachieve and I’m very proud of that.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 26, 2025
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
From Hercules to Elche, Alaves to Getafe, he has consistently overachieved with squads of modest talent.
From BBC ● Sep. 19, 2025
“I’m happy because we’ve overachieved and exceeded expectations.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 29, 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
Iraola has a history of overachieving everywhere he has been, beginning with his playing career.
From BBC ● Jun. 4, 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
She has observed that many of her patients — overachieving, ambitious women — struggle to embrace pleasure.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 12, 2026
He was the embodiment of the myth that had made Permian so enormously popular—small, overachieving, white, fearless.
From "Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, And A Dream" by H.G. Bissinger
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