overachieve

American  

[oh-ver-uh-cheev] / ˌoʊ vər əˈtʃiv /

Also over-achieve

verb (used without object)

overachieved, overachieving

1. to perform better or achieve more than people are generally expected to, often because of high ambition, pressure from family, etc.

2. to perform, especially academically, above the potential indicated by tests of one's mental ability or aptitude.

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overachieve British  

/ ˌəʊvərəˈtʃiːv /

verb

1. (intr) to perform (for example, in examinations) better than would be expected on the basis of one's age or talents

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Other Word Forms

• overachievement
  noun
• overachiever
  noun

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Etymology

Origin of overachieve

1950–55; over- + achieve, or by back formation from overachiever

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

overachieve overachieved overachieving

Paradoxically, the social pressure to overachieve as a parent only seems to intensify with mothers’ increased participation in the labor market.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 8, 2026

There is hope however that China will "underpromise but overachieve" as it has with some previous targets, including on renewable energy.

From Barron's ● Nov. 4, 2025

"They'll put down a certain number, which is not great, and then they will overachieve it, and China does that a lot."

From BBC ● Oct. 28, 2025

The Diamondbacks also tell themselves they play in a way that enables them to overachieve.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 13, 2024

For outsiders, the Pacific Island teams often overachieve and Fiji beat England in the buildup to lay down a warning to pool rivals Wales and Australia.

From Washington Times ● Sep. 1, 2023

McDermott noted that the company overachieved in the second quarter with some federal deals, but was still raising its full-year forecast.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 22, 2026

Meanwhile, gross margins overachieved in the quarter, on the strength of tariff recovery.

From Barron's ● May 13, 2026

“I never knew if I overachieved or underachieved. I just did what I loved,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 19, 2026

Liverpool have overachieved in recent seasons in the WSL under manager Matt Beard, raising expectations and ambitions.

From BBC ● Dec. 16, 2024

They undoubtedly overachieved from their preseason expectations, but by the revised expectations of many after four straight wins and a 6-3 record in early November, their cup should have been filled with Champagne.

From Seattle Times ● Jan. 2, 2023

In college, he struggled to fit in with overachieving classmates at a top university in Beijing.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026

It’s a confounding and destabilizing experience for overachieving women used to being on top of every detail.

From Slate ● Sep. 23, 2026

Emery, though, defended his side and insisted even if their title hopes are done they are overachieving.

From BBC ● Feb. 27, 2026

And now with “Love Hurts,” Marvin channels his overachieving tendencies into his second career, earning the title of Regional Realtor of the Year — with the framed certificate to prove it.

From Salon ● Feb. 7, 2025

Local Teen Trapped in Parental Vortex of Expectation and Disappointment, Doesn’t Expect to Be Rescued The nice thing about having an overachieving asshole for an older brother is that it takes the pressure off.

From "The Sun Is Also a Star" by Nicola Yoon

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