overextend
overextend · overextends · overextended · overextending
To expand or extend to an excessive degree, especially to do so beyond a safe limitTo expand or extend to an excessive degree, especially to do so beyond a safe limit; to overreach.
US/ˌoʊvɚɪkstˈɛnd/
» Tom wanted to swim across the lake but he overextended himself and drowned.
Meaning
3 sensesTo expand or extend to an excessive degree, especially to do so beyond a safe limit; to overreach.
(transitive)To apply (a term) to too many referents, by overextension.
(transitive)To push a pawn too far, so that it becomes vulnerable to the opponent's attacks.
More definitions
- strain excessively
Examples
1 sentencesTom wanted to swim across the lake but he overextended himself and drowned.
Translations
1 languagesOrigin
From over- + extend.From over- + extend.
Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Forms
overextends, overextending, overextended, overextended| Base form | overextend · to overextend |
|---|---|
| 3rd person singular | overextends |
| Present participle | overextending |
| Past simple | overextended |
| Past participle | overextended |
regular · Lesson
Synonyms
1 synonymsClose in meaning
- strain excessively:overstrain
Word family
1 related wordsDerivedoverextended
Lessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, regular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle