overshoot

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

verb (used with object)

, o·ver·shot, o·ver·shoot·ing.

1. to shoot or go over, beyond, or above; miss:

   The missile overshot its target.

2. to pass or go by or beyond (a point, limit, etc.):

   to overshoot a stop sign.

3. to shoot or pour down over:

   turbulent water overshooting the top of the dam.

4. to overreach (oneself or itself); go further than is intended or proper; go too far:

   It looked as though his self-confidence had overshot itself.

5. (of an aircraft or pilot) to fly too far along (a landing strip) in attempting to land.

verb (used without object)

, o·ver·shot, o·ver·shoot·ing.

1. to fly or go beyond.
2. to shoot over or above a mark.

noun

1. a shooting beyond a specified point or target:

   two overshoots in the missile test series.

2. the amount of excessive distance in a trajectory or route:

   a two-mile overshoot on the artillery range.

overshoot

/ ˌəʊvəˈʃuːt /

verb

1. to shoot or go beyond (a mark or target)
2. to cause (an aircraft) to fly or taxi too far along (a runway) during landing or taking off, or (of an aircraft) to fly or taxi too far along a runway
3. tr to pass swiftly over or down over, as water over a wheel

noun

1. an act or instance of overshooting
2. the extent of such overshooting
3. a momentary excessive response of an electrical or mechanical system

Word History and Origins

Origin of overshoot¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English oversheten, overshoten; over- + shoot ¹( def )

Example Sentences

Rob Wood, chief UK economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics, said the latest borrowing figures showed public spending was "already overshooting Budget forecasts".

From BBC

But it also raises the possibility of overshooting and sending the economy into a recession, which would ultimately hurt stock prices.

From Seattle Times

Specifically, the researchers looked at how often ozone levels would exceed air quality standards designed to protect public health, how far ozone levels would overshoot the standards, and how that may change by 2050.

From Science Daily

The risk is that the economy might overshoot and end up in a painful recession that would cause layoffs for workers across the country and weaken corporate profits, dragging stock prices lower.

From Seattle Times

“When you release the breath, your heart rate then shoots up and your blood pressure can overshoot.”

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• beset
• choke
• deluge
• inundate
• invade
• overflow
• overwhelm
• ravage