to extend, reach, or expand beyond a proper, safe, or reasonable point
a company that overextended its credit to diversify
2.
to extend for too long a time
to overextend a stay
3.
to obligate (oneself) to more activities, work, etc., than one has time for or can accomplish well
Derived forms
overextension (ˌouvərɪkˈstenʃən)
noun
Word origin
[1935–40; over- + extend]This word is first recorded in the period 1935–40. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: aeroembolism, bingo, gangbuster, prime mover, unit trustover- is a prefixal use of over, occurring in various senses in compounds (overboard; overcoat; overhang; overlap; overlord; overrun; overthrow), and especially employed, with the sense of “over the limit,” “to excess,” “toomuch,” “too,” to form verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and nouns (overact; overcapitalize; overcrowd; overfull; overmuch; oversupply; overweight), and many others, mostly self-explanatory: a hyphen, which is commonly absent fromold or well-established formations, is sometimes used in new coinages or in any wordswhose component parts it may be desirable to set off distinctly
Examples of 'overextend' in a sentence
overextend
Markets normally overextend themselves either on the upside or downside.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Just don't be tempted to overextend yourself.
The Sun (2015)
Overextend and you could lose money if the garden ends up too small.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
However, you're offered an excess of indulgence and you'll be driven to overextend yourself emotionally and financially.
The Sun (2015)
We're careful not to overextend ourselves.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
But not trying to present it as some kind of policy for first-time buyers, or encouraging banks to overextend again.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
You don't have to overextend yourself.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Perhaps something in each of their personalities meant they were always doomed to overextend themselves.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Househunters who overextend themselves to buy properties at the peak of the market are storing up trouble, experts warn.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Of course some empires collapse because they overextend their borders, leaving the centre strained and hollow.