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
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
Many felt that Bournemouth overachieved when they finished ninth last season - and for a while there was even talk of Europe.
From BBC ● Oct. 3, 2025
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
Other overachieving systems—including the active hydraulic roll stabilization, the rear-wheel steering, even the acoustically insulated convertible top, your honor—contributed to my oblivious delinquency.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 2, 2026
Emery, though, defended his side and insisted even if their title hopes are done they are overachieving.
From BBC ● Feb. 27, 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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