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 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.
Success no longer comes from doing everything yourself or overextending behind the scenes. Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 31 Dec. 2025 This is particularly important given the growing reliance on debt financing in some large-scale infrastructure projects, especially at firms like Oracle and CoreWeave, which already seem overextended. Brian Blank, The Conversation, 29 Dec. 2025 Lock your hips out at the top without overextending and stand tall with your shoulders in line with your pelvis. Jakob Roze, Health, 26 Dec. 2025 The reality is that investors are selling off individual stocks of companies that seem to be overextended. Jim Edwards, Fortune, 16 Dec. 2025 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Overextend.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overextend. Accessed 3 Jan. 2026.

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 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 noun

More from Merriam-Webster on overextend

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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