Overstep

/ˌəʊvəˈstɛp/ · verb

Meaning

(transitive) To go too far beyond (a limit); especially, to cross boundaries or exceed norms or conventions..

Definitions by Sense

1. (transitive) To go too far beyond (a limit); especially, to cross boundaries or exceed norms or conventions.
2. To take a step in which the foot touches ground too far forward.
3. To move with a gait such that the hind foot touches the ground forward of the point where the front foot touches the ground.
4. A gait in which the hind foot touches ground in front of where the front foot touches the ground.
5. A movement in which one oversteps.
6. A decision or action that goes too far.

Example Sentences

That color scheme really oversteps the bounds of good taste.

As a result, there was a gain of 3½ min. from Goraghwood to Dundalk, which we reached 2 min. early. Nevertheless, the customs officials succeeded in overstepping their 13-min. time allowance, and we left 1 min. late.

As an instance of this inability to control the muscles well, may be cited the almost constant tendency to understep or overstep especially with the fore legs.

If a sense of feeling gave him some knowledge of the width of the steps the fact that the third step was ⅝ of an inch wider could not cause him to overstep, but if it had any effect it would tend to cause him to understep.

Cerebellar dysfunction is characterized by truncal ataxia, a broad-based stance, dysmetria in which the limbs either overstep (hypermetria) or understep (hypometria), and tremor that is most pronounced when the animal attempts a goal-orientated movement (intention tremor).

For quotations using this term, see Citations:overstep.

A few animals, such as bison, commonly use an understep walk, while several species, including black bears, cougars and pronghorn regularly use an overstep walk.

Therefore, an understep (where the hind track lies behind the front track) is probably a slower gait than a direct-registering walk where the hind lies on top of the front, and both are probably slower than an overstep walk, where the hind track registers beyond the front track.

Synonyms for overstep

Antonyms for overstep

Related Words

Word Forms

• oversteps
• overstepping
• overstepped

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

Practice and Learn More

Frequently Asked Questions