English Lexicon

Overshoot

/ˈoʊ.vər.ʃuːt/
verbnounCEFR B2 (Upper)Top #1500 frequency
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Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As verb
  1. 1

    To go beyond a target or limit, especially in a physical or metaphorical sense.

    "The rocket overshot its intended orbit and drifted into space."
As noun
  1. 1

    An instance of exceeding a target or limit.

    "The overshoot of the budget led to significant financial adjustments."

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Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

The term 'overshoot' is derived from the combination of the prefix 'over-', meaning 'excessively', and the verb 'shoot', which has roots in Old English 'scēotan', meaning 'to throw or hurl'. The term evolved in the 20th century, particularly in contexts related to physics and economics, to describe surpassing a target or limit.

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