overstretch

American

[oh-ver-strech, oh-ver-strech, oh-ver-strech] / ˌoʊ vərˈstrɛtʃ, ˌoʊ vərˈstrɛtʃ, ˈoʊ vərˌstrɛtʃ /

verb (used with object)

to stretch excessively.
to stretch or extend over.

noun

an act or instance of overstretching.

overstretch British

/ ˌəʊvəˈstrɛtʃ /

verb

to make excessive demands or put excessive pressure on (oneself, finances, etc)
to stretch (muscles or limbs) too much or too hard

"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

Etymology

Origin of overstretch

1300–50; Middle English overstrecchen; see over-, stretch

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.

Overstretch, ō-vėr-strech′, v.t. to stretch to excess: to exaggerate.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 3 of 4: N-R) by Various

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023