overreach

American  

[oh-ver-reech] / ˌoʊ vərˈritʃ /

verb (used with object)

1. to reach or extend over or beyond.

   The shelf overreached the nook and had to be planed down.

2. to go beyond, as a thing aimed at or sought.

   an arrow that had overreached the target.

3. to stretch to excess, as by a straining effort.

   to overreach one's arm and strain a muscle.

4. to defeat (oneself ) by overdoing matters, often by excessive eagerness or cunning.

   In trying to promote disunity he had overreached himself.

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

6. to get the better of, especially by deceit or trickery; outwit.

   Every time you deal with them you wonder if they're overreaching you.

7. to overtake.

8. Obsolete. to overpower.

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verb (used without object)

1. to reach or extend over something.

2. to reach too far.

   In grabbing for the rope he overreached and fell.

3. to cheat others.

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

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

overreach British  

/ ˌəʊvəˈriːtʃ /

verb

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

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

3. to get the better of (a person) by trickery

4. (tr) to reach or extend beyond or over

5. (intr) to reach or go too far

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

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Other Word Forms

• overreacher
  noun

Etymology

Origin of overreach

First recorded in 1300–50; over- + reach ( def. )

Example Sentences

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

Justice Thomas has put his stamp on other areas of the law, notably gun rights in Bruen in 2022 and executive overreach in regulating bump stocks in Garland v.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 3, 2026

Buying a house, in particular, is an overreach.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 29, 2026

Huckabee called that episode an "unfortunate overreach already having major repercussions around the world".

From BBC • Apr. 20, 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

Related Words

• overdo