override

5 synonyms for override, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Verb — To take priority over, or cancel out, an existing decision, rule, or system.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

reverse

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

overthrow

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

overturn overrule nullification

Synonyms by Meaning

1. verb

To take priority over, or cancel out, an existing decision, rule, or system.

“The manager overrode the automated pricing to give the customer a discount.”

reverse overthrow overturn overrule nullification

2. noun

A mechanism or command used to take manual control over something automatic.

“There's a manual override for the elevator in case of a power cut.”

nullification

How to use override

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

manual override override a decision override the system

Etymology

From Old English oferrīdan ("to ride over"), built from over- + ride; German überreiten is a cognate.

Full origin of override →

Frequently asked questions

What does “override” mean?

The word “override” means to take priority over, or cancel out, an existing decision, rule, or system. In plain terms, to take control away from an automatic system, rule, or decision, and replace it with your own.

How do you pronounce “override”?

“Override” is pronounced oh-vuh-RYD (/oʊ.vɚˈɹaɪd/ in IPA).

How do you use “override” in a sentence?

Here is “override” used in a sentence: “A safety officer can override the system in an emergency.”

What part of speech is “override”?

Depending on how it is used, “override” can be a verb and a noun.

Where does the word “override” come from?

The word “override” comes from Old English. From Old English oferrīdan ("to ride over"), built from over- + ride; German überreiten is a cognate.

Is “override” a common word?

“Override” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “override” have?

“Override” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to take priority over, or cancel out, an existing decision, rule, or system.

Related words

overload

People also searched

reverse overthrow overturn nullification overrule

Nearby words

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