override

[verb oh-ver-rahyd; noun oh-ver-rahyd]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR override ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), o·ver·rode, o·ver·rid·den, o·ver·rid·ing.

to prevail or have dominance over; have final authority or say over; overrule: to override one's advisers.

to disregard, set aside, or nullify; countermand: to override the board's veto.

to take precedence over; preempt or supersede: to override any other considerations.

to extend beyond or spread over; overlap.

to modify or suspend the ordinary functioning of; alter the normal operation of.

to ride over or across.

to ride past or beyond.

to trample or crush; ride down.

to ride (a horse) too much.

Fox Hunting. to ride too closely behind (the hounds).

noun

a commission on sales or profits, especially one paid at the executive or managerial level.

budgetary or expense increase; exceeding of an estimate: work stoppage because of cost overrides.

an ability or allowance to correct, change, supplement, or suspend the operation of an otherwise automatic mechanism, system, etc.

an auxiliary device for such modification, as a special manual control.

an act of nullifying, canceling, or setting aside: a congressional override of the president's veto.

Radio and Television Slang. something that is a dominant or major facet of a program or series, especially something that serves as a unifying theme: an entertainment series with a historical override.

Origin of override

before 900; Middle English overriden to ride over or across, Old English oferrīdan. See over-, ride

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

Related Words for override

annul, revoke, reverse, veto, nullify, quash, abrogate, cancel, defeat

Examples from the Web for override

Contemporary Examples of override

Obviously, the U.S. has improved their systems since then, but this was before they knew about the override device.
‘24: Live Another Day’ Showrunners on the Finale, the Dangers of Drones, and Jack Bauer’s Future
Marlow Stern
July 15, 2014
So far, supporters of same-sex marriage say they are three votes short of an override in the Senate and 12 in the House.
Chris Christie’s Gays & Guns Problem: What New Jersey Wants, the GOP Rejects
David Freedlander
March 29, 2013
But the president could then veto that measure, and the override attempt would fail.
Fiscal Cliff Countdown, Day 30: Senate Meets Dada
Daniel Gross
December 6, 2012
The effect of the Castle Doctrine is to override the duty to retreat.
George Zimmerman’s 2nd-Degree Murder Charge Fixes Nothing
David R. Dow
April 11, 2012
VIRGO The Full Pisces Moon, Monday, requires tapping into Virgo humility to override excess pride.
The Stars Predict Your Week
Starsky + Cox
September 10, 2011

Historical Examples of override

I yield to no man in my sense of duty, and I allow no private considerations to override it.
The Snare
Rafael Sabatini
Yet how was it possible for him to stand ready, for her sake, to override the laws of his own land?
The Princess Virginia
C. N. Williamson
He did not distrust her; he only feared her ability to override the difficulties of her mission.
They of the High Trails
Hamlin Garland
He supplied the trappings of science, without the authority to override O'Donnell.
The Leech
Phillips Barbee
Security is the primary, which must override the secondary, aim.
The English Utilitarians, Volume I.
Leslie Stephen

British Dictionary definitions for override

override

verb -rides, -riding, -rode or -ridden (tr)

to set aside or disregard with superior authority or power

to supersede or annul

to dominate or vanquish by or as if by trampling down

to take manual control of (a system that is usually under automatic control)

to extend or pass over, esp to overlap

to ride (a horse) too hard

to ride over or across

noun

a device or system that can override an automatic control

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 override

Old English oferridan "to ride across," from ofer "over" (see over) + ridan "to ride" (see ride (v.)). Originally literal, of cavalry, etc. Figurative meaning "to set aside arrogantly" is from 1827. The mechanical sense "to suspend automatic operation" is attested from 1946. As a noun in this sense from 1946. Related: Overrode; overriding; overridden.