overreach
Americanverb (used with object)
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to reach or extend over or beyond.
The shelf overreached the nook and had to be planed down.
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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)
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to reach or extend over something.
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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
Conjugated Forms
Present
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have overreachedperfect
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has overreachedperfect 3rd person singular
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have been overreachingperfect progressive
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is overreachingprogressive 3rd person singular
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has been overreachingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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are overreachingprogressive
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am overreachingprogressive 1st person singular
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overreachessingular 3rd person
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overreachingparticiple
Past
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had overreachedperfect
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had been overreachingperfect progressive
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were overreachingprogressive plural
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was overreachingprogressive singular
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overreachedparticiple
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overreachedsimple
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.
Meta has reacted angrily, accusing the Commission of "regulatory overreach."
From BBC • Jun. 9, 2026
The Securities and Exchange Commission has finally eliminated one of its most unfair practices and most troubling examples of administrative overreach: the “gag rule.”
From Barron's • Jun. 3, 2026
As the book’s subtitle indicates, Mr. Bayliss, a scholar of Greek history at the University of Birmingham in England, situates the Spartans firmly within the time-honored pattern of overreach leading to downfall.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 25, 2026
That agreement resolved a union grievance addressing what the union regarded as administrative overreach and inattention to employees mired in lengthy investigations and disciplinary proceedings.
From Los Angeles Times • May 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
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.
