overcommit

American

[oh-ver-kuh-mit] / ˌoʊ vər kəˈmɪt /

verb (used with object)

overcommitted, overcommitting

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

overcommit British

/ ˌəʊvəkəˈmɪt /

verb

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

overcommitment

noun

Etymology

Origin of overcommit

First recorded in 1950–55; over- + commit

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.

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

He began cautiously, with neither fighter willing to overcommit in a cagey opening few rounds.

From BBC • Nov. 1, 2025

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

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023