overextend
verb
over·ex·tend
ˌō-vər-ik-ˈstend 
overextended; overextending; overextends
: 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.
Examples of overextend in a Sentence
He overextended a muscle in his arm.
Recent Examples on the Web
Jardines consolidated its control of Hongkong Land in the 1980s, following an era of aggressive expansion that left the developer overextended.
—
Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 19 May 2026
At approximately $500 for a Queen, the CoolNest® Hybrid Mattress offers a well-rounded option for modern households seeking elevated comfort without overextending their budget.
—Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 13 May 2026
However, Lewin, the physiologist, is cautious about overextending the results and interpretations to every bird, given that the researchers haven’t looked at any migratory species.
—Yasemin Saplakoglu, Quanta Magazine, 13 May 2026
Good limits often open better options than overextending your resources in the moment.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 9 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for overextend
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Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 19 May 2026
At approximately $500 for a Queen, the CoolNest® Hybrid Mattress offers a well-rounded option for modern households seeking elevated comfort without overextending their budget.
—Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 13 May 2026
However, Lewin, the physiologist, is cautious about overextending the results and interpretations to every bird, given that the researchers haven’t looked at any migratory species.
—Yasemin Saplakoglu, Quanta Magazine, 13 May 2026
Good limits often open better options than overextending your resources in the moment.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 9 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for overextend
Cite this Entry
“Overextend.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overextend. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
overextend
verb
over·ex·tend
ˌō-vər-ik-ˈstend
: to extend or expand beyond a safe or reasonable point
especially
: to commit (oneself) financially beyond what can be paid
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