overrule

verb

over·​rule ˌō-vər-ˈrül 

ˌō-və-

overruled; overruling; overrules

transitive verb

1

: to rule over : govern

2

: to prevail over : overcome

3

a

: to rule against

b

: to set aside : reverse

Examples of overrule in a Sentence

The judge overruled the objection.

His conviction was overruled by the supreme court.

Recent Examples on the Web

The Supreme Court could reconsider and overrule Rucho vs. Common Cause and go back to holding, as the law used to be, that federal courts can invalidate partisan gerrymandering. —Erwin Chemerinsky, Twin Cities, 14 Aug. 2025

This decision came around the same time as a Mississippi age-verification law was allowed to go into effect by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, overruling a previous block of the law for nearly identical First Amendment concerns. —Angele Latham, The Tennessean, 14 Aug. 2025

In a statement posted to Facebook on Aug. 9, Rep. Jason Nemes, R-Middletown, said Langford would not have been granted shock probation if the Safer Kentucky Act had been passed beforehand (the legislature overruled Gov. Andy Beshear's veto of the act on April 12, 2024). —Leo Bertucci, Louisville Courier Journal, 10 Aug. 2025

The Oceanside Navigation Center, the municipality’s first year-round shelter, opened in 2023 after council members overruled the recommendations of city staff and narrowly voted for the facility to be run by the San Diego Rescue Mission. —Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1576, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for overrule

• minuscule
• molecule
• poiseuille
• reticule
• ridicule
• vestibule
• ampoule
• bascule
• carpool
• cesspool
• ferrule
• footstool

Kids Definition

overrule

verb

over·​rule -ˈrül 

1

: to decide against

the judge overruled the objection

2

: to reverse or set aside (a decision or ruling made by a lesser authority)

Legal Definition

overrule

transitive verb

over·​rule ˌō-vər-ˈrül 

1

: to rule against

the objection was overruled

compare sustain

2

a

: to rule against upon review by virtue of a higher authority : set aside, reverse

the appeals court overruled the trial court's decision

b

: to set aside as a precedent or guide

did not intend to overrule prior jurisprudence in that area

refused to overrule the landmark case

compare follow