oversubscribe

American  

[oh-ver-suhb-skrahyb] / ˌoʊ vər səbˈskraɪb /

verb (used with object)

oversubscribed, oversubscribing

1. to subscribe for more of than is available, expected, or required.

   The charity drive was oversubscribed by several thousand dollars.

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oversubscribe British  

/ ˌəʊvəsəbˈskraɪb /

verb

1. (tr; often passive) to subscribe or apply for in excess of available supply

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Other Word Forms

• oversubscriber noun
• oversubscription noun

Etymology

Origin of oversubscribe

First recorded in 1890–95; over- + subscribe

Example Sentences

"We have to oversubscribe as we always expect a substantial drop-off on the day of filming," she said.

From BBC

“Every year, in a matter of hours, we oversubscribe beyond the entire 85,000 slots plus,” Issa said.

From Los Angeles Times

“A lot of ISPs oversubscribe, so you can feel the lag in the afternoon when everyone gets home,” Behroozi says.

From Time

As a result, “You can have 10 cubicles for 20 workers, knowing that not everyone is going to be there. It’s the gym model—you can oversubscribe because you know that not everyone will use it.”

From Forbes

Every year it has to oversubscribe its admissions because many students will leave the engineering school and transfer into arts and sciences after a year, typically majoring in the social sciences. 

From New York Times