overachievev.
/ˌəʊv(ə)rəˈtʃiːv/, U.S. /ˈˌoʊvərəˈtʃiv/ 1. intransitive. To achieve more than expected or predicted; to be excessively dedicated to achievement.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > succeed or be a success [verb (intransitive)] > achieve success (of persons) > in excess of expectations
overachieve1939
1939 E. G. Williamson How to counsel Students xvii. 371 Effective counseling is a means of preventing the failure of potential overachievers by helping them to select courses they can master and then by assisting them to overachieve in the appropriate courses.
1976 Woman's Day (N.Y.) Nov. 54/2 David continued to ‘overachieve’ all through high school, college and a distinguished law school.
2002 Sunday Tribune (Dublin) (Nexis) 2 June 4 They are a good side and I think they could overachieve.
2. transitive. To reach and go beyond (an aim, purpose, target, etc.); to surpass.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > make a success of [verb (transitive)] > achieve more than is expected
surpass1842
overachieve1961
1961 J. M. H. Lindbeck in S. H. Gould Sci. in Communist China 28 Industrial enterprises..were caught up in mass research with ‘peasant scientists’ and ‘worker scientists’ helping to overachieve research targets.
1981 Amer. Banker (Nexis) 29 July 34 We were able..to achieve our objectives, indeed to over-achieve our minimum objectives in some regards.
2000 Nightly Business Rep. (Nexis) 12 Jan. We hope we'll always continue to overachieve expectations.
2000 G. Ledgerwood & A. I. Broadhurst Environmental Ethics & Corporation i. 10 Major businesses are increasingly expected to over-achieve environmental targets, rather than to respond laggardly to legislation.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2004; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
v.1939