overextend

verb

over·​ex·​tend ˌō-vər-ik-ˈstend How to pronounce overextend (audio)
overextended; overextending; overextends
Synonyms of overextendnext

transitive verb

: to extend or expand beyond a safe or reasonable point
especially : to commit (oneself) financially beyond what can be paid
When the interest rate went up, he found he'd overextended himself.
overextension
ˌō-vər-ik-ˈsten(t)-shən How to pronounce overextend (audio)
noun

Examples of overextend in a Sentence

He overextended a muscle in his arm.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Always bend your knees and never overextend while picking something up. — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 18 Oct. 2026 Consistency signals a plan that fits their life, not a product that overextends them. — Anand Solanki, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026 One possible reason is that safety professionals themselves are overextended, with too many sites to monitor and outdated sensors to monitor with. — Matt Alderton, Time, 15 Oct. 2026 This is uncharted territory, complicated by the fact that overextended governments cannot easily step in to stem the losses. — Ruchir Sharma, Foreign Affairs, 13 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for overextend

Word History

First Known Use

1859, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of overextend was in 1859

Phrases Containing overextend

Rhymes for overextend

See All Rhymes for overextend

Browse Nearby Words

overexposure
overextend
overextend oneself
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Overextend.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overextend. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

overextend

verb
over·​ex·​tend ˌō-vər-ik-ˈstend How to pronounce overextend (audio)
: to extend or expand beyond a safe or reasonable point
especially : to commit (oneself) financially beyond what can be paid
overextension
-ˈsten-shən How to pronounce overextend (audio)
noun

Medical Definition

overextend

transitive verb
over·​ex·​tend ˌō-və-rik-ˈstend How to pronounce overextend (audio)
: to extend too far
overextend the back
overextension
-ˈsten-chən How to pronounce overextend (audio)
noun

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