overstep

Meaning

Verb

1. (transitive) To go too far beyond (a limit); especially, to cross boundaries or exceed norms or conventions.
2. To take a step in which the foot touches ground too far forward.
3. To move with a gait such that the hind foot touches the ground forward of the point where the front foot touches the ground.

Noun

1. (uncountable) A gait in which the hind foot touches ground in front of where the front foot touches the ground.
2. (uncountable) A movement in which one oversteps.
3. (uncountable) A decision or action that goes too far.

Synonyms

exceed

transgress

go beyond

pass

transcend

trespass

break

surmount

surpass

top

🔝

contravene

go past

violate

overrun

infringe

overreach

overtop

step

overlap

overpass

precede

span

stray

tramp

transcendence

transit

travel

go overboard

cross the line

go in advance

beggar

onlap

breach

bridge

defy

disobey

dominate

encroach

exaggerate

fall back

hop

journey

leapfrog

master

offend

outdo

outstrip

overage

overdraw

Translations

oltrepassare

υπερβαίνω

δρασκελίζω

dépasser

überschreiten

avançar

trasgredire

exceder

outrepasser

excéder

ξεπερνώ

eccedere

travalicare

traspasar

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˌəʊvəˈstɛp/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: *oversteppen

Inherited from Old English: ofersteppan

Cognate with Dutch: overstappen

Cognate with German: überstapfen

In summary

From Middle English *oversteppen, from Old English ofersteppan, from Proto-Germanic *uberstapjaną (“to step over; overstep”), equivalent to over- + step. Cognate with Dutch overstappen, German Low German överstappen, German überstapfen, überstepfen.