override

[ verb oh-ver-rahyd; noun oh-ver-rahyd ]

verb (used with object)

, o·ver·rode, o·ver·rid·den, o·ver·rid·ing.

1. to prevail or have dominance over; have final authority or say over; overrule:

   to override one's advisers.

2. to disregard, set aside, or nullify; countermand:

   to override the board's veto.

3. to take precedence over; preempt or supersede:

   to override any other considerations.

4. to extend beyond or spread over; overlap.
5. to modify or suspend the ordinary functioning of; alter the normal operation of.
6. to ride over or across.
7. to ride past or beyond.
8. to trample or crush; ride down.
9. to ride (a horse) too much.
10. Fox Hunting. to ride too closely behind (the hounds).

noun

1. a commission on sales or profits, especially one paid at the executive or managerial level.
2. budgetary or expense increase; exceeding of an estimate:

   work stoppage because of cost overrides.

3. an ability or allowance to correct, change, supplement, or suspend the operation of an otherwise automatic mechanism, system, etc.
4. an auxiliary device for such modification, as a special manual control.
5. an act of nullifying, canceling, or setting aside:

   a congressional override of the president's veto.

6. Radio and Television Slang. something that is a dominant or major facet of a program or series, especially something that serves as a unifying theme:

   an entertainment series with a historical override.

override

/ ˌəʊvəˈraɪd /

verb

1. to set aside or disregard with superior authority or power
2. to supersede or annul
3. to dominate or vanquish by or as if by trampling down
4. to take manual control of (a system that is usually under automatic control)
5. to extend or pass over, esp to overlap
6. to ride (a horse) too hard
7. to ride over or across

noun

1. a device or system that can override an automatic control

Word History and Origins

Origin of override¹

before 900; Middle English overriden to ride over or across, Old English oferrīdan. See over-, ride

Example Sentences

“The overriding feeling was that OK, these are not perhaps being treated with the full level of care and respect that we would want,” he said.

From BBC

The game had seemed in hand at half-time, yet come the final whistle the overriding emotion in Dublin was one of relief.

From BBC

Folt was hired with an overriding mandate to restore trust in the university, which had been rocked by one scandal after another.

From Los Angeles Times

Campaigners in Florida had promoted the amendment as a way to override the law that came into force earlier this year, which banned abortion after the sixth week of pregnancy, with limited exceptions.

From BBC

The California Legislature also last overrode a gubernatorial veto in 1980.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• abrogate
• annul
• nullify
• quash
• reverse
• revoke
• veto