3 VERB If an event overtakes you, it happens unexpectedly or suddenly. □ [V n] Tragedy was shortly to overtake him, however.
4 VERB If a feeling overtakes you, it affects you very strongly. [LITERARY ] □ [V n] Something like panic overtook me.
over|tax /oʊ və r tæ ks/ (overtaxes , overtaxing , overtaxed )
1 VERB If you overtax someone or something, you force them to work harder than they can really manage, and may do them harm as a result. □ [V n] …a contralto who has overtaxed her voice.
2 VERB If you say that a government is overtaxing its people, you mean that it is making them pay more tax than you think they should pay. □ [V n] You can't help Britain by overtaxing its people.
o ver-the-cou nter → see counter
o ver-the-to p → see top
over|think /əʊ və r θ I ŋk/ (overthinks , overthinking , overthought ) VERB If you overthink , or if you overthink a problem, you spend too much time thinking about something. □ You overthink things and start worrying.
over|throw (overthrows , overthrowing , overthrew , overthrown ) The verb is pronounced /oʊ və r θroʊ /. The noun is pronounced /oʊ və r θroʊ/. VERB When a government or leader is overthrown , they are removed from power by force. □ [be V -ed] That government was overthrown in a military coup three years ago. □ [V n] …an attempt to overthrow the president. ● N‑SING Overthrow is also a noun. □ [+ of ] They were charged with plotting the overthrow of the state.
over|time /oʊ və r ta I m/
1 N‑UNCOUNT Overtime is time that you spend doing your job in addition to your normal working hours. □ He would work overtime, without pay, to finish a job.
2 PHRASE If you say that someone is working overtime to do something, you mean that they are using a lot of energy, effort, or enthusiasm trying to do it. [INFORMAL ] □ We had to battle very hard and our defence worked overtime to keep us in the game.
3 N‑UNCOUNT Overtime is an additional period of time that is added to the end of a sports match in which the two teams are level, as a way of allowing one of the teams to win. [AM ] □ They won the championship by defeating their opponents 3–2 in overtime. in BRIT, use extra time
over|tired /oʊ və r tai ə r d/ ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you are overtired , you are so tired that you feel unhappy or bad-tempered, or feel that you cannot do things properly.
over|tone /oʊ və r toʊn/ (overtones ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] If something has overtones of a particular thing or quality, it suggests that thing or quality but does not openly express it. □ It's a quite profound story, with powerful religious overtones.
over|took /oʊ və r tʊ k/ Overtook is the past tense of overtake .
over|ture /oʊ və r tʃʊə r / (overtures )
1 N‑COUNT An overture is a piece of music, often one that is the introduction to an opera or play. □ [+ to ] The programme opened with the overture to Wagner's Flying Dutchman.
2 N‑COUNT [usu pl] If you make overtures to someone, you behave in a friendly or romantic way towards them. □ [+ of ] He had lately begun to make clumsy yet endearing overtures of friendship.
over|turn /oʊ və r tɜː r n/ (overturns , overturning , overturned )
1 VERB If something overturns or if you overturn it, it turns upside down or on its side. □ [V ] The lorry veered out of control, overturned and smashed into a wall. □ [V n] Alex jumped up so violently that he overturned his glass of sherry. □ [V -ed] …a battered overturned boat.
2 VERB If someone in authority overturns a legal decision, they officially decide that that decision is incorrect or not valid. □ [V n] His nine-month sentence was overturned by Appeal Court judge Lord Justice Watkins.
3 VERB To overturn a government or system means to remove it or destroy it. □ [V n] He accused his opponents of wanting to overturn the government.
over|use (overuses , overusing , overused ) The verb is pronounced /oʊ və r juː z/. The noun is pronounced /oʊ və r juː s/. 1 VERB If someone overuses something, they use more of it than necessary, or use it more often than necessary. □ [V n] Don't overuse heated appliances on your hair. ● N‑UNCOUNT Overuse is also a noun. □ Supplies are under increasing threat from overuse and pollution.
2 VERB If you say that people overuse a word or idea, you mean that they use it so often that it no longer has any real meaning or effect. □ [V n] Which words or phrases do you most overuse? ● over|used ADJ □ 'Just Do It' has become one of the most overused catch phrases in recent memory.
over|value /oʊ və r væ ljuː/ (overvalues , overvaluing , overvalued ) VERB To overvalue something, often a cost or rate of exchange, means to fix its value at too high a level compared with other similar things. □ [V n] …a rate which does not overvalue the pound. □ [be V -ed] Many, perhaps all, Internet stocks are hugely overvalued. ● over|valu|ation /oʊ və r væljue I ʃ ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] These problems were aggravated by the overvaluation of the pound. ● over|valued ADJ □ It still can be argued that Japanese shares are overvalued in terms of the return they offer.