overextendv.
/ˌəʊv(ə)rᵻkˈstɛnd/, /ˌəʊv(ə)rɛkˈstɛnd/, U.S. /ˈˌoʊvərɪkˈstɛnd/, /ˈˌoʊvərɛkˈstɛnd/ 1. transitive. To extend (a thing) too far or to too great a degree. Also occasionally intransitive.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > extension in space > extend [verb (transitive)] > spread (something) out or open > too far
overextend1859
1859 S. Colwell Ways & Means of Payment 182 The credit of this bank has been rarely shaken... It once over-extended its loans on pledges.
1963 C. R. Cowell et al. Inlays, Crowns, & Bridges vi. 64 If a temporary crown is overextended cervically the gingivae may be forced back.
1991 Eng. World-wide 12 302 Passivization is consistently over-extended to ergative verbs and ‘tough’ predicates.
1998 Victorian Soc. Jrnl. 1997 56/2 We objected to plans to over-extend this mid C19 lodge house.
2001 Jrnl. Asian Martial Arts 10 No. 3. 74 When attacking with a punch or thrust, the attacker should not overextend and lose his balance.
2. transitive. To impose an excessive burden of work, commitments, etc., on. Also reflexive: to take on too many (financial) commitments, etc.; to attempt more than is practicable.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > undertaking > undertake or apply oneself [verb (reflexive)] > undertake more than is practicable
to spread oneself thin1871
overextend1909
the world > action or operation > endeavour > [verb (reflexive)] > attempt more than one can do
overreacha1568
to spread oneself thin1871
overextend1909
the world > action or operation > undertaking > undertake [verb (transitive)] > impose a task on > more than is practicable
overextend1962
1909 M. Glass Potash & Perlmutter 17 At first he had med with moderate success, but..the consensus of opinion among his competitors was that he was over-extended.
1938 Sun (Baltimore) 6 May 3/5 We are no longer over-extended in new construction or in capital equipment.
1962 L. Davidson Rose of Tibet ii. 46 The arrangement was for a car to pick him up..but when..no car appeared, he realized he must have overextended Mr. Mukherjee, and took a bus instead.
1976 National Observer (U.S.) 3 July 9/4 In much the same way..it's easy to overextend yourself on vacations by scheduling too much sight-seeing and other activity.
1991 Managem. Accounting Sept. 42/2 The company is over-extending itself by increasing its stock and fixed assets and in doing so is sacrificing its liquidity.
2000 Two Twenty Oct. 32/4 Set HR maximums to keep below during training, so that you do not over-extend yourself every session (one of the biggest causes of over-training).
3. transitive. To extend or reach further than (something). rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > extension in space > extend [verb (transitive)] > extend beyond
overreacha1400
surpass1601
outspan1856
overextend1937
overpass1938
1937 R. Erskine Stout Adventure M. Stewart iii. 62 There was in Scotland..a culture and a civilization, vastly older and much more extensively practised, which, reckoned in the gross, outweighed and over-extended by a deal feudal, that is to say, English culture, manners and customs.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2004; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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