overreach

[oh-ver-reech]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR overreach ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

to reach or extend over or beyond: The shelf overreached the nook and had to be planed down.

to go beyond, as a thing aimed at or sought: an arrow that had overreached the target.

to stretch to excess, as by a straining effort: to overreach one's arm and strain a muscle.

to defeat (oneself) by overdoing matters, often by excessive eagerness or cunning: In trying to promote disunity he had overreached himself.

to strain or exert (oneself or itself) to the point of exceeding the purpose.

to get the better of, especially by deceit or trickery; outwit: Every time you deal with them you wonder if they're overreaching you.

to overtake.

Obsolete. to overpower.

verb (used without object)

to reach or extend over something.

to reach too far: In grabbing for the rope he overreached and fell.

to cheat others.

(of a running or walking horse) to strike, or strike and injure, the forefoot with the hind foot.

Nautical. to sail on a tack longer than is desirable or was intended; overstand.

Nearby words

Origin of overreach

Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; see origin at over-, reach

Related formso·ver·reach·er, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for overreach

The danger of a potential Republican overreach or overreaction was clearly on the minds of people in both parties Wednesday.
The Coming GOP Freakout Over Immigration|Patricia Murphy|November 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But U.S. intelligence officials say the secret to defeating ISIS may be to wait for its overreach to catch up with it.
ISIS Baffling U.S. Intelligence Agencies|Eli Lake|August 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Overreach, though, is actually undermining the goal of the Russian separatists.
Crimeans Are Resigned To Pro-Russia Vote|Jamie Dettmer|March 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The two governors were supposed to stand as standard-bearers for the right against the overreach of Barack Obama.
The Cash Money McDonnells|Jamelle Bouie|January 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST

In other words, keep the focus on Obamacare and away from possible charges of overreach.
Republicans Compromise on the Budget, but Don’t Expect Them To Compromise on the Debt Ceiling|Eleanor Clift|December 18, 2013|DAILY BEAST
You will be surprised to find out how far you come short, or overreach the mark.
Inventions of the Great War|A. Russell (Alexander Russell) Bond
They advanced cautiously and then swung apart, evading the collision—each trying to tempt the other to stab and overreach.
The Jester of St. Timothy's|Arthur Stanwood Pier
Mr. B. Why, Mary, would you have me crawl at the feet of a man who tries to overreach me?
St. Nicholas, Vol. 5, No. 2, December, 1877|Various
The trouble is we take unnecessary responsibilities so seriously that we overreach ourselves and defeat our own good ends.
The Untroubled Mind|Herbert J. Hall
He saw the old woman was resolved to outwit him, and he resolved to overreach the old woman.
Phelim O'toole's Courtship and Other Stories|William Carleton

British Dictionary definitions for overreach

overreach

verb

(tr) to defeat or thwart (oneself) by attempting to do or gain too much

(tr) to aim for but miss by going too far or attempting too much

to get the better of (a person) by trickery

(tr) to reach or extend beyond or over

(intr) to reach or go too far

(intr) (of a horse) to strike the back of a forefoot with the edge of the opposite hind foot

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

Word Origin and History for overreach

overreach

c.1300, "to reach above or beyond" (transitive), from over- + reach (v.). Meaning "to extend over something, to cover it" is from c.1400. Sense of "to reach beyond one's strength" is from 1560s. As a noun from 1550s. Related: Overreached; overreaching.