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

Example Sentences

The judge overruled the objection.

His conviction was overruled by the supreme court.

Recent Examples on the Web

Senators Joe Manchin, Jon Tester, Jeanne Shaheen, Catherine Cortez Masto, Maggie Hassan, Jacky Rosen, Angus King, and Kyrsten Sinema all joined in the effort to overrule time and work that residents and officials have invested to make their city safer. —Prem Thakker, The New Republic, 16 May 2023

But open-government groups and First Amendment advocates criticized the Superior Court decision and said a higher court needs to overrule Judge Taylor in order to protect the public’s right to public information. —Jeff Mcdonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 May 2023

Former President Donald Trump's proposal to slightly cut plant emissions was overruled by a federal appellate court in 2021, and in 2016, the Supreme Court granted a stay on Barack Obama's Clean Power Plan. —Cara Korte, CBS News, 11 May 2023

Mashuda said his clients felt the the lease sale should have never happened in the first place but sought to convince the court that the IRA instructs Interior to issue the 257 leases only if the court were to overrule the district court and hold the lease sale valid. —Jeremy Beaman, Washington Examiner, 5 May 2023

Once, after a huge upset of FSU in 1997, Spurrier even encouraged fans to storm the field but Foley overruled him. —Mike Bianchi, Orlando Sentinel, 30 Apr. 2023

Max keep flying, report says The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) overruled concerned engineers to let the Boeing 737 Max keep flying even in the wake of deadly crashes in 2018 and 2019, a new report alleges. —Justin Klawans, The Week, 29 Apr. 2023

The families’ lawyers have asked the judge overseeing the case, George B. Daniels, to overrule her. —Tim Golden, ProPublica, 27 Apr. 2023

Broward circuit court judges overruled the city’s approval of the oceanfront project at 1174 to 1185 Hillsboro Mile, where the town’s zoning code generally caps buildings at three stories. —Lisa J. Huriash, Sun Sentinel, 27 Apr. 2023

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Word History

First Known Use

1576, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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