overthrow

American  

[oh-ver-throh, oh-ver-throh] / ˌoʊ vərˈθroʊ, ˈoʊ vərˌθroʊ /

verb (used with object)

overthrew, overthrown, overthrowing

1. to depose, as from a position of power; overcome, defeat, or vanquish.

   to overthrow a tyrant.

   Synonyms:

   overpower, conquer

2. to put an end to by force, as a government or institution.

3. to throw or knock down; overturn; topple.

   The heavy winds overthrew numerous telephone poles and trees.

4. to knock down and demolish.

   Synonyms:

   level, raze, destroy

5. to throw (something) too far.

6. Baseball. (of a pitcher) to throw too hard, often affecting control or straining the arm.

7. Archaic. to destroy the sound condition of (the mind).

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verb (used without object)

overthrew, overthrown, overthrowing

1. to throw too far.

   If I hadn't overthrown, it would have been a sure putout.

noun

1. the act of overthrowing; state or condition of being overthrown.

2. deposition from power.

3. defeat; destruction; ruin.

   Synonyms:

   fall

overthrow British  

verb

1. (tr) to effect the downfall or destruction of (a ruler, institution, etc), esp by force

2. (tr) to throw or turn over

3. (tr) to throw (something, esp a ball) too far

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noun

1. an act of overthrowing

2. downfall; destruction

3. cricket

   1. a ball thrown back too far by a fielder

   2. a run scored because of this

Other Word Forms

• overthrower noun
• preoverthrow noun
• unoverthrown adjective

Etymology

Origin of overthrow

Middle English word dating back to 1300–50; over-, throw

Example Sentences

“I thought he was overthrowing, I hadn’t seen that all spring,” Roberts said after the game.

From Los Angeles Times

In November 1978, Tejero had been linked to another failed bid to overthrow the government, known as Operation Galaxy, for which he was sentenced to seven months behind bars.

From Barron's

Ghana's government has removed the name of a coup leader, who helped overthrow founding father Kwame Nkrumah exactly 60 years ago, from the country's main airport.

From BBC

Many students can be heard chanting these slogans in support of Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of the late Shah, and the Pahlavi dynasty that was overthrown in 1979.

From BBC

On the eve of the 1979 revolution that overthrew the shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, there was a much clearer vision of what would follow.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• abolish
• conquer
• crush
• depose
• dethrone
• eradicate
• oust
• overcome
• overrun
• overturn
• put an end to
• raze
• subdue
• subvert
• topple
• unseat
• vanquish