overcommit

American  

[oh-ver-kuh-mit] / ˌoʊ vər kəˈmɪt /

verb (used with object)

overcommitted, overcommitting

1. to commit more than is feasible, desirable, or necessary.

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overcommit British  

/ ˌəʊvəkəˈmɪt /

verb

1. (tr) to promise, undertake, or allocate more than the available resources justify

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Other Word Forms

• overcommitment
  noun

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Etymology

Origin of overcommit

First recorded in 1950–55; over- + commit

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

overcommit overcommitted overcommitting

The contest began cagily, with neither fighter willing to overcommit as both showed sharp defensive skills.

From BBC ● Oct. 24, 2026

Some investors said that it has been better to not overcommit after any one development, knowing a reversal might be just a social-media post away.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 13, 2026

These guys commit to a bit, and commit, and commit, and overcommit and keep on going.

From Salon ● Oct. 13, 2025

Kalms acknowledged the potential for donors to overcommit but said they’ve taken precautions to prevent “going after people that can’t really afford these donations.”

From Seattle Times ● Aug. 2, 2023

Instead of jumping into his assignment right away, Rivera said, Davis could have baited the lineman with an intentionally false step, forced him to overcommit and used his athleticism to evade the block altogether.

From Washington Post ● Dec. 14, 2022

Some who worked with him in the Ministry Of Defence said he had long been warned its budget was already overcommitted, stretching back to the previous government when he served as shadow defence secretary.

From BBC ● Jun. 11, 2026

"You have of LPs out there who are overcommitted and have capital calls and they have to sell at discount."

From Reuters ● Sep. 11, 2023

Curry deployed high-arcing scoop shots on four occasions, punishing Sacramento’s defense when it overcommitted to the threat posed by his jumper.

From Washington Post ● Apr. 30, 2023

“I do like the idea of not being overcommitted on a mortgage and having that extra freedom to go do something else,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 27, 2022

Finding himself overcommitted, he had decided to send Maurice instead.

From "Double Helix" by James D. Watson

"Oversharing policy deliberations and overcommitting to future decisions can lead markets, businesses, and households astray," he said, adding it also inhibited the Fed the "freedom to make the right calls when it's time to decide".

From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026

Now, the market looks different: U.S. consumers have cooled on the technology, Chinese manufacturers have raced to dominate the market, and European carmakers have stomached tens of billions in write-downs after overcommitting to the segment.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 26, 2026

“If you find yourself overcommitting to gifts and events and travel around the holidays, could it have something to do with your fear of missing out on what others are doing?” asks Torabi.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 5, 2023

“I do worry the Forest Service is overcommitting itself,” he said Tuesday.

From Seattle Times ● Jan. 19, 2022

Farmer remained cautious about overcommitting PIH’s limited resources.

From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French

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