override

American  

[oh-ver-rahyd, oh-ver-rahyd] / ˌoʊ vərˈraɪd, ˈoʊ vərˌraɪd /

verb (used with object)

overrode, overridden, overriding

1. to prevail or have dominance over; have final authority or say over; overrule.

   to override one's advisers.

2. to disregard, set aside, or nullify; countermand.

   to override the board's veto.

3. to take precedence over; preempt or supersede.

   to override any other considerations.

4. to extend beyond or spread over; overlap.

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

6. to ride over or across.

7. to ride past or beyond.

8. to trample or crush; ride down.

9. to ride (a horse) too much.

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

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noun

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

2. budgetary or expense increase; exceeding of an estimate.

   work stoppage because of cost overrides.

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

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

5. an act of nullifying, canceling, or setting aside.

   a congressional override of the president's veto.

6. 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.

override British  

/ ˌəʊvəˈraɪd /

verb

1. to set aside or disregard with superior authority or power

2. to supersede or annul

3. to dominate or vanquish by or as if by trampling down

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

5. to extend or pass over, esp to overlap

6. to ride (a horse) too hard

7. to ride over or across

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noun

1. a device or system that can override an automatic control

Etymology

Origin of override

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

Example Sentences

But the enteric nervous system, which governs gut motility through a dense network of neurons that neuroscientists sometimes call the “second brain,” is not built to sustain that kind of chronic, pharmacological override.

From Slate • Mar. 22, 2026

The mayor has said he will veto the bill, meaning that the council will need to find four additional votes to override it.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 22, 2026

Under a new proposal being evaluated by officials, the City Council could have the power to override decisions not to fire by the disciplinary panels.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 17, 2026

Those fears are hypothetical, but he worries that financial pressures could override safety.

From BBC • Mar. 12, 2026

Or they can be in negative sentiment override, so that even a relatively neutral thing that a partner says gets perceived as negative.

From "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell

Related Words

• abrogate
• annul
• nullify
• quash
• reverse
• revoke
• veto