overthrow
Americanverb (used with object)
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to depose, as from a position of power; overcome, defeat, or vanquish.
to overthrow a tyrant.
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to put an end to by force, as a government or institution.
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to throw or knock down; overturn; topple.
The heavy winds overthrew numerous telephone poles and trees.
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to knock down and demolish.
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to throw (something) too far.
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Baseball. (of a pitcher) to throw too hard, often affecting control or straining the arm.
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Archaic. to destroy the sound condition of (the mind).
verb (used without object)
noun
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the act of overthrowing; state or condition of being overthrown.
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deposition from power.
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defeat; destruction; ruin.
- Synonyms:
- fall
verb
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(tr) to effect the downfall or destruction of (a ruler, institution, etc), esp by force
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(tr) to throw or turn over
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(tr) to throw (something, esp a ball) too far
noun
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an act of overthrowing
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downfall; destruction
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cricket
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a ball thrown back too far by a fielder
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a run scored because of this
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Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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overthrowsimple
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overthrowssimple
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have overthrownperfect
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has overthrownperfect
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am overthrowingprogressive
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are overthrowingprogressive
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is overthrowingprogressive
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have been overthrowingperfect progressive
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has been overthrowingperfect progressive
Past
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overthrewsimple
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had overthrownperfect
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was overthrowingprogressive
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were overthrowingprogressive
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had been overthrowingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of overthrow
Middle English word dating back to 1300–50; see origin at over-, throw
Explanation
When you overthrow a ruler or a regime, you throw them out, usually by force. If you're a rebel you may plan to overthrow the current government and install a new regime. You can also use overthrow as a noun. You might plot to overthrow the parking ticket authority so that you won't have to pay your tickets. There are also more literal uses of the word. In baseball, football, and other games that involve throwing a ball, you overthrow when you throw the ball past the person you're aiming for. You can say "the pitcher overthrew the ball to the first baseman," or "the pitcher overthrew the first baseman."
Vocabulary lists containing overthrow
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"Death, be not proud" by John Donne
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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.
See Examples For:
Then there’s the fact that Nicaraguan migrants in the United States are a smaller and less powerful force than Cuban Americans, many of whom have lobbied Washington for decades to isolate and overthrow Havana’s leaders.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 26, 2026
Christ disappointed many who expected the Messiah to overthrow the yoke of Roman oppression.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026
He said that since Gaddafi's overthrow, sectors such as education and healthcare as well as basic needs have been "completely neglected".
From Barron's ● May 26, 2026
Would things have changed if Harry Sheridan was able to keep hold of the ball as he fell towards the line, or if Tom Stewart did not overthrow on his line-out?
From BBC ● May 22, 2026
If any of the Wise should with this Ring overthrow the Lord of Mordor, using his own arts, he would then set himself on Sauron’s throne, and yet another Dark Lord would appear.
From "The Fellowship of the Ring" by J.R.R. Tolkien
Researchers at the University of British Columbia have now uncovered a key reason behind these coordinated overthrows and how they unfold so precisely.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 22, 2025
India had lost their past four semi-finals in World Cups and they conceded 30 extras, twice gifted four overthrows and Shami dropped a simple chance to remove Williamson on 52.
From BBC ● Nov. 15, 2023
Dobbs threw for two touchdowns in his fifth start for the injured Kyler Murray, but had two interceptions on overthrows and lost a fumble that set up a Bengals’ fourth-quarter field goal.
From Washington Times ● Oct. 9, 2023
The study, published on Thursday in Science, overthrows decades of thinking about when humans arrived in North America.
From Scientific American ● Oct. 5, 2023
He is the ever victorious champion, who defies and overthrows the malignant demons that beset the life of man; who, above all, gives the victory over the last foe of humanity.
From Roman Society from Nero to Marcus Aurelius by Dill, Samuel
Apple finally overthrew Nvidia to reclaim the title of the world’s largest company by market capitalization, underscoring the dramatic degree to which the iPhone maker’s stock is clobbering the broader technology universe.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 27, 2026
Tom Stewart overthrew a line-out five metres from the Ulster line and Montpellier moved the ball quickly for Taofifenua to cross out wide, and Miotti again converted.
From BBC ● May 22, 2026
The 1976 coup overthrew president Isabel Peron, who had replaced her husband Juan Peron after he died in office.
From Barron's ● Mar. 24, 2026
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 ● Feb. 20, 2026
The Redeemers who overthrew Reconstruction were inclined to retain such segregation practices as had already emerged, but they displayed no apparent disposition to expand or universalize the system.
From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander
The regime that had ruled Iran since the Shah was overthrown in 1979 was on the way out.
From BBC ● Jun. 9, 2026
On 7 December, mutinying soldiers claimed to have overthrown the Benin president.
From BBC ● Apr. 16, 2026
“I’m happy because the Ayatollah was overthrown, and for the freedom,” he said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 6, 2026
And they paid dearly with an overthrown line-out hacked on by Bielle-Biarrey for Gailleton to charge 50 metres downfield before Ramos finished off the counter-attack in the corner.
From Barron's ● Feb. 22, 2026
You are strong and can still in some matters govern yourself, Denethor; yet if you had received this thing, it would have overthrown you.
From "The Return of the King" by J.R.R. Tolkien
I watched a movie called “The International,” which focused on an Interpol investigation of a bank that primarily served groups intent on overthrowing existing governments.
From MarketWatch ● May 8, 2026
“Just not overthrowing the ball, not throwing as hard as I can but hitting the spots and having a feel for my off-speed pitches,” he said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 12, 2026
He might open the door to their own people overthrowing them, though not push anybody through it.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 3, 2026
“I thought he was overthrowing, I hadn’t seen that all spring,” Roberts said after the game.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 25, 2026
I saw that revenge was still at the front of his mind, overthrowing all thoughts of love.
From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
