overreach
Americanverb (used with object)
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overreaches,
present (3rd person singular)
-
overreached,
past participle, past
-
overreaching
present participle
-
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.
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to stretch to excess, as by a straining effort.
to overreach one's arm and strain a muscle.
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to defeat (oneself ) by overdoing matters, often by excessive eagerness or cunning.
In trying to promote disunity he had overreached himself.
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to strain or exert (oneself or itself ) to the point of exceeding the purpose.
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to get the better of, especially by deceit or trickery; outwit.
Every time you deal with them you wonder if they're overreaching you.
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to overtake.
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Obsolete. to overpower.
verb (used without object)
-
overreaches,
present (3rd person singular)
-
overreached,
past participle, past
-
overreaching
present participle
-
to reach or extend over something.
-
to reach too far.
In grabbing for the rope he overreached and fell.
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to cheat others.
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(of a running or walking horse) to strike, or strike and injure, the forefoot with the hind foot.
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Nautical. to sail on a tack longer than is desirable or was intended; overstand.
verb
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(tr) to defeat or thwart (oneself) by attempting to do or gain too much
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(tr) to aim for but miss by going too far or attempting too much
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to get the better of (a person) by trickery
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(tr) to reach or extend beyond or over
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(intr) to reach or go too far
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(intr) (of a horse) to strike the back of a forefoot with the edge of the opposite hind foot
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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overreachsimple
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overreachessimple
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have overreachedperfect
-
has overreachedperfect
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am overreachingprogressive
-
are overreachingprogressive
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is overreachingprogressive
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have been overreachingperfect progressive
-
has been overreachingperfect progressive
Past
-
overreachedsimple
-
had overreachedperfect
-
was overreachingprogressive
-
were overreachingprogressive
-
had been overreachingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of overreach
First recorded in 1300–50; over- + reach ( def. )
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:
"But if we overreach, or if we fight too much internally, we could miss this moment."
From BBC ● Nov. 4, 2026
Hochman spoke with me for nearly an hour about his reasons for what many, myself included, see as his prosecutorial overreach in this case.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026
“I think you’ll see a challenge there — that there’s just been an overreach and abuse of this particular statute,” Hillman said.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 21, 2026
He immediately received a red card, which many people thought was a dramatic overreach by the official.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 5, 2026
And he was also biding his time, waiting for Archie to overreach himself, to make a mistake.
From "The Chocolate War" by Robert Cormier
But when it overreaches, it undercuts what it claims to encourage.
From Salon ● May 13, 2025
If Mr Abiy overreaches, Saudi Arabia may feel obliged to overcome its wariness over the Eritrean President Isaias Afewerki, and support him.
From BBC ● Nov. 7, 2023
White works methodically toward a queenside break, but switches nimbly to the other flank when his opponent overreaches: 19. a4 g5?!
From Washington Times ● Oct. 3, 2023
However, considering the potential harms of this technology, enforceable safeguards are needed to prevent unconstitutional overreaches.
From Scientific American ● May 18, 2023
Few of the overreaches, but not none: Cahokia was a glaring exception.
From "1491" by Charles C. Mann
They, too, overreached, invaded lands they couldn’t conquer or couldn’t control, and brought disasters down on their citizenries.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 25, 2026
Additionally, if the Supreme Court rules that Trump overreached his authority to implement tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, businesses could boost hiring in the expectation of reduced levies.
From Barron's ● Jan. 2, 2026
In response, the airline industry sued the DOT, claiming it had overreached its authority.
From Seattle Times ● May 27, 2024
In another game at the same tournament, she crushed former world champion Mariya Muzychuk in 23 moves after the latter overreached, inviting the Indian to employ a devastating attack.
From BBC ● Dec. 1, 2023
Then, brimming with confidence, he overreached by taking on both the US Army and the most popular television news anchorman in the country, Edward R. Murrow.
From "1919 The Year That Changed America" by Martin W. Sandler
During the McCarthy era, overreaching laws, surveillance, and public and private sector reprisals ostensibly targeted alleged communists.
From Salon ● May 28, 2026
It hardly seems as though there is room for any kind of overreaching music director.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 26, 2026
Credit Suisse fired Barofsky in 2022 for overreaching on his mandate, and he was rehired by UBS after it took over in 2023.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 3, 2026
That makes it important for investors to distinguish between companies capable of handling the cycle and those overreaching.
From Barron's ● Dec. 3, 2025
Lawrence had built his career by overreaching and then making good on his promises.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
