overextend

verb

over·​ex·​tend ˌō-vər-ik-ˈstend 

overextended; overextending; overextends

transitive verb

: to extend or expand beyond a safe or reasonable point

especially : to commit (oneself) financially beyond what can be paid

When the interest rate went up, he found he'd overextended himself.

overextension

ˌō-vər-ik-ˈsten(t)-shən 

noun

Examples of overextend in a Sentence

He overextended a muscle in his arm.

Recent Examples on the Web

The reality is that investors are selling off individual stocks of companies that seem to be overextended. —Jim Edwards, Fortune, 16 Dec. 2025

That move is historically overextended and is likely to revert closer to the mean. —Jay Woods, CNBC, 16 Dec. 2025

Ashley is despondent over how her mom overextends herself for a partner who is dragging her down and leaving her to clean up his messes with no remorse or accountability. —Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025

One year ago, Ukraine was short on manpower and had overextended itself with an incursion into Kursk, Russia. —Thomas Wright, The Atlantic, 11 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1859, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing overextend

• overextend oneself

Rhymes for overextend

• superintend
• amend
• append
• ascend
• attend
• backend
• befriend
• boyfriend
• commend
• compend
• contend
• defend

Kids Definition

overextend

verb

over·​ex·​tend ˌō-vər-ik-ˈstend 

: to extend or expand beyond a safe or reasonable point

especially : to commit (oneself) financially beyond what can be paid

overextension

-ˈsten-shən 

noun

Medical Definition

overextend

transitive verb

over·​ex·​tend ˌō-və-rik-ˈstend 

: to extend too far

overextend the back

overextension

-ˈsten-chən 

noun