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

As conservatives understand it, the Comstock Act would apply everywhere—including in states that have passed ballot measures—and would override any protections that voters opted to create.

From Slate

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

Male rage is misdirected at the wrong individuals and groups as it is processed through conspiracism and anti-intellectualism and manipulated by malign actors who are masters at gaming the algorithm and attention economy; facts and reality generally do not supersede or override the power of perception and emotions; joy and hope and calling people names such as “weird” are not effective strategies for stopping such destructive forces.

From Salon

A federal rule along these lines would override state laws and prevent states like California from placing restrictions on mass balance or chemical recycling within their borders, according to the bill.

From Salon

Alternatively, they said cities could override the state rent cap by passing weaker rent control laws.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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