overshoot

verb

over·​shoot ˌō-vər-ˈshüt How to pronounce overshoot (audio)
overshot ˌō-vər-ˈshät How to pronounce overshoot (audio) ; overshooting

transitive verb

1
: to pass swiftly beyond
2
: to shoot or pass over or beyond so as to miss
overshoot noun

Examples of overshoot in a Sentence

The plane overshot the runway. Sometimes we overshoot our time limits.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
According to the latest data, the average man in the United States is overshooting the federal protein recommendation by more than 55 percent and the average woman by more than 35 percent. Alice Callahan, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025 One aspect to this bounce-back dynamic is that, when a dramatic sell-off happens, some stocks can overshoot to the downside because investors and traders are selling first and asking questions later. Jeff Marks,kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 8 Apr. 2025 Pilots can carry out go-arounds if there is a sudden shift in the wind, an obstruction on the runway or the aircraft was inadvertently overshooting the runway. Amanda Musa, CNN, 27 Feb. 2025 In Texas, a cargo plane overshot the runway during takeoff and caught fire. Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 12 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for overshoot

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of overshoot was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Overshoot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overshoot. Accessed 20 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

overshoot

verb
over·​shoot ˌō-vər-ˈshüt How to pronounce overshoot (audio)
overshot -ˈshät How to pronounce overshoot (audio) ; overshooting
1
: to miss by going beyond
the plane overshot the runway
2
: to shoot over or beyond
overshot the target

Medical Definition

overshoot

noun
over·​shoot ˈō-vər-ˌshüt How to pronounce overshoot (audio)
: a rapid change in electrical potential and reversal of polarity that occurs during an action potential when a cell or tissue is stimulated

More from Merriam-Webster on overshoot

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