over·ride
ˌō-vər-ˈrīd 
ˌō-və-
overrode
ˌō-vər-ˈrōd
ˌō-və-
; overridden
ˌō-vər-ˈri-dᵊn
ˌō-və-
; overriding
ˌō-vər-ˈrī-diŋ
ˌō-və-
1
: to ride over or across : trample
overrode the thin line of defenders
2
: to ride (an animal, such as a horse) too much or too hard
3
a
: to prevail over : dominate
panic overrode everything else—
Marcia Davenport
Marcia Davenport
b
: to set aside : annul
override a veto
the rights of the individual were being flagrantly overridden—C. L. Jones
C. L. Jones
c
: to neutralize the action of (something, such as an automatic control)
You must enter a code to override the alarm.
4
: to extend or pass over
over·ride
ˈō-vər-ˌrīd
ˈō-və-
1
: a commission paid to managerial personnel on sales made by subordinates
2
3
: a device or system used to override a control
4
: an act or an instance of overriding
Examples of override in a Sentence
Verb
Congress overrode the President's veto.
These new rules override the old ones.
Don't let anger override common sense.
You must enter a code to override the alarm.
She overrode the default settings on her computer.
Recent Examples on the WebJenna Barackman, Kansas City Star, 17 Apr. 2024
Still, the music continues to override any of the head-scratching behaviors Future, Metro Boomin, and all of their friends engage in.
—Jayson Buford, Rolling Stone, 16 Apr. 2024
However, the General Assembly later overrode the governor’s veto.
—Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 8 Apr. 2024
Plans called for 40-minute walkouts at schools across Alaska, with 40 representing the number of votes lawmakers needed to override the veto.
—Becky Bohrer, Fortune, 5 Apr. 2024
Molina also said the process for reimbursement does not prevent the city manager from overriding the mayor’s decision – a situation that occurred last year.
—Tammy Murga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2024
So notwithstanding the fact that the Constitution says states can set the time of elections, Congress has overridden that and set it.
—Dana Taylor, USA TODAY, 31 Mar. 2024
The House and Senate wasted no time to take action after the veto, overriding it on March 6.
—Hannah Pinski, The Courier-Journal, 29 Mar. 2024
But the work is reborn whenever Robert Lesser shuffles in as Morry the tailor, whose compassion for Fender overrides his mercantile sense.
—Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2024
Becky Bohrer, Fortune, 5 Apr. 2024
The marijuana legislation advanced mostly along party lines, and the minimum wage bills passed strictly on party lines, meaning any override attempt would be almost certain to fail.
—Sarah Rankin, Quartz, 28 Mar. 2024
The override propels closer to law a ban on gender-affirming surgeries and hormone therapies, and sets restrictions on mental health care for transgender individuals under 18.
—CBS News, 10 Jan. 2024
The Ohio House planned to return from its winter break early to vote on the override, the Ohio Capital Journal reported.
—Jo Yurcaba, NBC News, 5 Jan. 2024
Twenty-four Republicans backed the override, with Sen. Nathan Manning, R-North Ridgeville, serving as the sole GOP vote against it.
—Haley Bemiller, USA TODAY, 25 Jan. 2024
As with the digital ad tax, the paid leave mandate was enacted with a veto override vote passed by Maryland legislators.
—Patrick Gleason, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024
Scott raised objections to the alternative plan and ultimately vetoed it in November, leaving too little time for a veto override.
—Emily Opilo, Baltimore Sun, 12 Feb. 2024
If the override happens, the law takes effect after 90 days.
—Haley Bemiller, The Enquirer, 11 Jan. 2024
Verb
Kelly this session also vetoed a single-rate income tax pushed heavily by Republicans, who were unable to override her veto.
—Jenna Barackman, Kansas City Star, 17 Apr. 2024
Still, the music continues to override any of the head-scratching behaviors Future, Metro Boomin, and all of their friends engage in.
—Jayson Buford, Rolling Stone, 16 Apr. 2024
However, the General Assembly later overrode the governor’s veto.
—Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 8 Apr. 2024
Plans called for 40-minute walkouts at schools across Alaska, with 40 representing the number of votes lawmakers needed to override the veto.
—Becky Bohrer, Fortune, 5 Apr. 2024
Molina also said the process for reimbursement does not prevent the city manager from overriding the mayor’s decision – a situation that occurred last year.
—Tammy Murga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2024
So notwithstanding the fact that the Constitution says states can set the time of elections, Congress has overridden that and set it.
—Dana Taylor, USA TODAY, 31 Mar. 2024
The House and Senate wasted no time to take action after the veto, overriding it on March 6.
—Hannah Pinski, The Courier-Journal, 29 Mar. 2024
But the work is reborn whenever Robert Lesser shuffles in as Morry the tailor, whose compassion for Fender overrides his mercantile sense.
—Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2024
Noun
Lawmakers fell one vote short in their override attempt last month.
—Becky Bohrer, Fortune, 5 Apr. 2024
The marijuana legislation advanced mostly along party lines, and the minimum wage bills passed strictly on party lines, meaning any override attempt would be almost certain to fail.
—Sarah Rankin, Quartz, 28 Mar. 2024
The override propels closer to law a ban on gender-affirming surgeries and hormone therapies, and sets restrictions on mental health care for transgender individuals under 18.
—CBS News, 10 Jan. 2024
The Ohio House planned to return from its winter break early to vote on the override, the Ohio Capital Journal reported.
—Jo Yurcaba, NBC News, 5 Jan. 2024
Twenty-four Republicans backed the override, with Sen. Nathan Manning, R-North Ridgeville, serving as the sole GOP vote against it.
—Haley Bemiller, USA TODAY, 25 Jan. 2024
As with the digital ad tax, the paid leave mandate was enacted with a veto override vote passed by Maryland legislators.
—Patrick Gleason, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024
Scott raised objections to the alternative plan and ultimately vetoed it in November, leaving too little time for a veto override.
—Emily Opilo, Baltimore Sun, 12 Feb. 2024
If the override happens, the law takes effect after 90 days.
—Haley Bemiller, The Enquirer, 11 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'override.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Dictionary Entries Near override
Cite this Entry
“Override.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/override. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
override
1 of 2 transitive verb
over·ride
ˌō-vər-ˈrīd
1
: to prevail or take precedence over
if, as is often the case, federal constitutional principles override state statutory or common law—H. P. Wilkins
H. P. Wilkins2
: to set aside by virtue of superior authority
overrode the jury's sentencing recommendation
override
2 of 2 noun
over·ride
ˈō-vər-ˌrīd
1
: a commission paid to managerial personnel on sales made by subordinates
called also override commission
2
: royalty
3
: an act or instance of overriding
a legislative override
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