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overshoot

verb
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over·​shoot | \ ˌō-vər-ˈshüt How to pronounce overshoot (audio) \
overshot\ ˌō-​vər-​ˈshät How to pronounce overshot (audio) \; overshooting

Definition of overshoot

transitive verb

1 : to pass swiftly beyond
2 : to shoot or pass over or beyond so as to miss
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Other Words from overshoot

overshoot \ ˈō-​vər-​ˌshüt How to pronounce overshoot (audio) \ noun

Examples of overshoot in a Sentence

The plane overshot the runway. Sometimes we overshoot our time limits.
Recent Examples on the Web However, the freak accident comes amid a difficult few weeks for the airline, when a SpiceJet aircraft overshot the runway at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai last week. — Fox News, "Indian airline technician killed after hydraulic door accidentally closed on him," 11 July 2019 In the quest to make SUVs handle as well as cars do, Mercedes-Benz has overshot the target. — Jason Fenske, Car and Driver, "How Mercedes Helps Your SUV Handle like a Car," 23 May 2020 In September 2018, a 737-800 was also involved in a fatal accident in the Federated States of Micronesia, when an Air Niugini flight overshot the runway and wound up in a nearby lagoon, killing one passenger. — Phil Boucher, Fortune, "‘A Money-Spinner:’ 737 Plane Model in Deadly Iran Crash Was a Bright Spot for Boeing," 8 Jan. 2020 State biologists believe the turkey population overshot its carrying capacity and has since stabilized at a lower number. — Paul A. Smith, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Leftover Wisconsin spring turkey permits go on sale beginning Monday. Here's how it works.," 14 Mar. 2020 Several officials also supported the idea of allowing inflation to temporarily overshoot the 2% target to offset the nearly seven-year period in which inflation has been below that level. — Christopher Rugaber, SFChronicle.com, "Fed seems inclined to keep rates low as virus poses risk," 19 Feb. 2020 Now the fall has gained momentum at a time of illiquid markets, so could have overshot, worsened by leveraged trades being closed out over the holidays. — James Mackintosh, WSJ, "My Lessons From the Market’s Wild December," 27 Dec. 2018 Others argue the administration has overshot on sanctions. — Karen Deyoung, Washington Post, "In the U.S. embargo on Venezuelan oil, Russia is a clear winner," 6 Feb. 2020 Coming in amid strong winds and heavy rain, the plane overshot the runway. — Zeynep Bilginsoy, BostonGlobe.com, "Passengers say crumpled plane landed very fast in Istanbul," 6 Feb. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'overshoot.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of overshoot

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Time Traveler for overshoot

Time Traveler

The first known use of overshoot was in the 14th century

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Statistics for overshoot

Last Updated

13 Jun 2020

Cite this Entry

“Overshoot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overshoot. Accessed 8 Jul. 2020.

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More Definitions for overshoot

overshoot

verb
How to pronounce overshoot (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of overshoot

: to go over or beyond (something)

See the full definition for overshoot in the English Language Learners Dictionary

overshoot

verb
over·​shoot | \ ˌō-vər-ˈshüt How to pronounce overshoot (audio) \
overshot\ -​ˈshät \; overshooting

Kids Definition of overshoot

: to miss by going beyond

overshoot

noun
over·​shoot | \ ˈō-vər-ˌshüt How to pronounce overshoot (audio) \

Medical Definition of overshoot

: a rapid change in electrical potential and reversal of polarity that occurs during an action potential when a cell or tissue is stimulated

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More from Merriam-Webster on overshoot

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for overshoot

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with overshoot

Spanish Central: Translation of overshoot

Nglish: Translation of overshoot for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of overshoot for Arabic Speakers

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