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

This drives up taxpayer costs and additionally strains already overextended local services. —Deyanira Nevárez Martínez, The Conversation, 4 Mar. 2026

This suggests their rallies are overextended, enhancing overbought conditions from the weekly stochastics, and therein increasing the likelihood of a pullback or digestion phase. —Katie Stockton, CNBC, 2 Mar. 2026

Cargo drones could help maintain tempo without overextending supply lines. —Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 17 Feb. 2026

Compassion doesn’t mean overextending yourself. —Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 8 Feb. 2026

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