Meaning

(ambitransitive) To reach above or beyond, especially to an excessive degree..

Definitions by Sense

1. (ambitransitive) To reach above or beyond, especially to an excessive degree.
2. (ambitransitive, figuratively) To do something beyond an appropriate limit, or beyond one's ability; to overextend.
3. (ambitransitive, reflexive, equestrianism) Of a horse: to strike the heel of a forefoot with the toe of a hindfoot.
4. (ambitransitive, now rare) To deceive, to swindle.
5. (intransitive, nautical) To sail on one tack farther than is necessary.
6. (transitive, archaic) To get the better of, especially by artifice or cunning; to outwit.
7. (also figuratively) An act of extending or reaching over, especially if too far or too much; overextension.
8. (equestrianism) Of a horse: an act of striking the heel of a forefoot with the toe of a hindfoot; an injury caused by this action.

Example Sentences

[...] I cannot forget what the poet Martial saith; "O quantum est subitis casibus ingenium!" signifying, that accident is many times more subtle than foresight, and overreacheth expectation; [...]

Writhing under his deficiency of means, he [William Hazlitt] struggled to supersede practice, overreach time, and bound at once to the conclusion.

The most eloquent manner of reading and of speaking, is the most easy of attainment, if sought for through the proper channel; for it is as simple as it is natural. But many who aim at it, fail by the very efforts adopted to gain it. They overreach the mark. They shoot too high. Instead of breathing forth their sentiments in the fervid glow of simple nature, which always warms, and animates, and interests the hearer, they work themselves up into a sort of frigid bombast, which chills and petrifies him.

[B]eneath [the fastigium of Conocephalus hebes, a species of bush-cricket], the whole forms a depending pointed cone, whose sides are scarcely less than a right angle with each other, and are separated by a pretty wide frontal incisure, by the slightly tuberculated tip of the front of the face which it overreaches.

In September 1926, [...] he [Patrick Hepburn] overreached his strength in his walks over the mountains and passes of his beloved Lake district, suffered leg injuries, and "was found in an exhausted condition and taken to a neighboring inn."

Don't overreach when reaching for the function keys. This causes the finger tendons to stretch. Move your hand closer to the desired key before pressing it.

Word Forms

• overreaches
• overreaching
• overreached
• overraught

Synonyms for overreach

Related Words

When Should You Use Overreach?

Use overreach when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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