overcall

verb

over·​call ˌō-vər-ˈkȯl How to pronounce overcall (audio)
overcalled; overcalling; overcalls

transitive verb

: to make a higher bid than (the previous bid or bidder) in a card game

intransitive verb

: to bid over an opponent's bid in bridge when one's partner has not bid or doubled
overcall noun

Examples of overcall in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web West led a club — East had overcalled — and East played the eight to keep communication. Frank Stewart, The Mercury News, 8 Aug. 2019 Some would double, and a few brave souls — those who aren’t terrified of being minus 800 — would overcall 1NT. Kathleen Saxe, The Mercury News, 19 July 2019 Your partner overcalls one heart, and the next player passes. Frank Stewart, The Mercury News, 10 May 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'overcall.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1889, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of overcall was in 1889

Dictionary Entries Near overcall

Cite this Entry

“Overcall.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overcall. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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