override

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

verb (used with object)

, o·ver·rode, o·ver·rid·den, o·ver·rid·ing.

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).

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

/ 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

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of override¹

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

Example Sentences

The Maryland Senate is expected to take up the override vote on Friday.

From Washington Post

Hogan, who is fighting against a likely veto override by the General Assembly of a bill that would impose a tax on digital ads, made one veiled reference about raising taxes during the economic recovery.

From Washington Post

Talk about it before you get to the trailhead, because once you are sitting on your machines, you’ll get that eager override and people will be charging everywhere.

From Outside Online

This vote, like an override of a veto or a constitutional amendment, would take a two-thirds majority in each chamber.

From Washington Post

The bottom line is that giving humans more agency means you’re inviting creativity — and letting diversity override bias.

From TechCrunch

Obviously, the U.S. has improved their systems since then, but this was before they knew about the override device.

From The Daily Beast

(4) Does the more recently enacted Affordable Care Act effectively override the previously enacted RFRA?

From The Daily Beast

So far, supporters of same-sex marriage say they are three votes short of an override in the Senate and 12 in the House.

From The Daily Beast

My biggest regrets are the moments that I let a lack of data override my intuition on what's best for our customers.

From The Daily Beast

But the president could then veto that measure, and the override attempt would fail.

From The Daily Beast

Then, as now, high prices led to consumption; for vanity likes to override obstacles.

From Project Gutenberg

In intellect he was the king's superior, but he allowed George's prejudices to override his convictions.

From Project Gutenberg

If he had given way to Slaughter he was not going to allow any one else to override him.

From Project Gutenberg

The Bosnian showed his eagerness by an evident determination to override all suggested difficulties.

From Project Gutenberg

But it was not inclined to admit in practice that the British Constitution could override its own particular interests.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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