overcommit

verb

over·​com·​mit ˌō-vər-kə-ˈmit How to pronounce overcommit (audio)
overcommitted; overcommitting; overcommits
Synonyms of overcommitnext

transitive verb

: to commit excessively: such as
a
: to obligate (someone, such as oneself) beyond the ability for fulfillment
b
: to allocate (resources) in excess of the capacity for replenishment
overcommitment
ˌō-vər-kə-ˈmit-mənt How to pronounce overcommit (audio)
noun

Examples of overcommit in a Sentence

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.
Just don’t overcommit — full moons are chaotic, and your calendar can’t hold everything. — Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 3 Aug. 2025 Don't Overdo Step One Don’t overcommit to the first cleaning step. — Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 28 Dec. 2025 The 6-foot, 195-pound versatile corner rarely overcommits. — Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026 For instance, their tendency to overcommit and prioritize work above all else can lead to stress, burnout and emotional disconnection. — Valerie Mesa, People.com, 23 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for overcommit

Word History

First Known Use

1951, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of overcommit was in 1951

Rhymes for overcommit

See All Rhymes for overcommit

Browse Nearby Words

overcommercialize
overcommit
overcommunicate
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Overcommit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overcommit. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on overcommit

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for overcommit

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All