overdraw
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to draw upon (an account, allowance, etc.) in excess of the balance standing to one's credit or at one's disposal.
It was the first time he had ever overdrawn his account.
-
to strain, as a bow, by drawing too far.
-
to exaggerate in portraying, describing, depicting, or drawing.
The author has overdrawn the villain to the point of absurdity.
verb (used without object)
-
to overdraw an account or the like.
It ruins one's credit to overdraw frequently at a bank.
-
(of a stove, fireplace, etc.) to draw excessively; have too strong an updraft.
When the flue overdraws, all the heat goes right up the chimney.
verb
-
to draw on (a bank account) in excess of the credit balance
-
(tr) to strain or pull (a bow) too far
-
(tr) to exaggerate in describing or telling
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
overdrawsimple
-
overdrawssimple
-
have overdrawnperfect
-
has overdrawnperfect
-
am overdrawingprogressive
-
are overdrawingprogressive
-
is overdrawingprogressive
-
have been overdrawingperfect progressive
-
has been overdrawingperfect progressive
Past
-
overdrewsimple
-
had overdrawnperfect
-
was overdrawingprogressive
-
were overdrawingprogressive
-
had been overdrawingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of overdraw
Middle English word dating back to 1325–75; see origin at over-, draw
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.
Workers cannot take out their full balance for a hardship withdrawal and they cannot overdraw, so there are some guardrails.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 12, 2026
Roughly a third of all payday loans are now issued online, and almost half of borrowers who have taken out online loans have had lenders overdraw their bank accounts.
From New York Times • Mar. 9, 2023
McCarthy attacked Boxer’s ethics and personal finances in connection with the House banking scandal, in which members of Congress were allowed to overdraw their accounts without penalty.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 20, 2023
The bank based in Charlotte, North Carolina, also plans to create a second bank-account product aimed primarily at unbanked or low-income individuals that will not allow customers to overdraw their accounts.
From Seattle Times • Jan. 18, 2022
“People overdraw their accounts all the time,” she said.
From "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
