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 Web
Grace Miserocchi, Chicago Tribune, 19 July 2025
Although President Donald Trump vetoed the bill, lawmakers overrode him and forced the Pentagon to find new names that didn't honor Confederates.
—Davis Winkie, USA Today, 19 July 2025
Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 16 July 2025
But the group fell shy of the six votes required for full override.
—Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for override
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show current usage.
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Verb
Mayor Brandon Johnson’s granny flat ordinance was stalled by opponents, efforts to override the mayor’s veto of a teen curfew rule failed and City Council members began jockeying to be the next Zoning Committee chair as Ald.
—Grace Miserocchi, Chicago Tribune, 19 July 2025
Although President Donald Trump vetoed the bill, lawmakers overrode him and forced the Pentagon to find new names that didn't honor Confederates.
—Davis Winkie, USA Today, 19 July 2025
Noun
While an override vote is possible at a future legislative session, backers of the bill would need to convince state lawmakers that municipal water bills in a small area within Miami-Dade are worth a showdown with DeSantis.
—Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 16 July 2025
But the group fell shy of the six votes required for full override.
—Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for override
Cite this Entry
“Override.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/override. Accessed 23 Jul. 2025.
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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