Library / English Dictionary

OVERTHROW

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

Irregular inflected forms: overthrew    , overthrown   

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

The termination of a ruler or institution (especially by force)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("overthrow" is a kind of...):

conclusion; ending; termination (the act of ending something)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "overthrow"):

subversion; subversive activity (the act of subverting; as overthrowing or destroying a legally constituted government)

Derivation:

overthrow (cause the downfall of; of rulers)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The act of disturbing the mind or body

Example:

she was unprepared for this sudden overthrow of their normal way of living

Synonyms:

derangement; overthrow; upset

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("overthrow" is a kind of...):

disturbance (the act of disturbing something or someone; setting something in motion)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Rule against

Example:

The Republicans were overruled when the House voted on the bill

Synonyms:

override; overrule; overthrow; overturn; reverse

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Hypernyms (to "overthrow" is one way to...):

decree; rule (decide with authority)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sense 2

Meaning:

Cause the downfall of; of rulers

Example:

subvert the ruling class

Synonyms:

bring down; overthrow; overturn; subvert

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "overthrow" is one way to...):

depose; force out (force to leave (an office))

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "overthrow"):

revolutionize (overthrow by a revolution, of governments)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

overthrow (the termination of a ruler or institution (especially by force))

Credits

 Context examples: 

It taught him that he had been scarcely more misled by Thorpe's first boast of the family wealth than by his subsequent malicious overthrow of it; that in no sense of the word were they necessitous or poor, and that Catherine would have three thousand pounds.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

That part of me which I had the power of projecting, had lately been much exercised and nourished; it had seemed to me of late as though the body of Edward Hyde had grown in stature, as though (when I wore that form) I were conscious of a more generous tide of blood; and I began to spy a danger that, if this were much prolonged, the balance of my nature might be permanently overthrown, the power of voluntary change be forfeited, and the character of Edward Hyde become irrevocably mine.

(The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

Lip-lip was overthrown and rolled upon his back.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

As Buck drew himself together to spring after them, out of the tail of his eye he saw Spitz rush upon him with the evident intention of overthrowing him.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

Would it not be a proud day for knight or squire if he could overthrow seven adversaries in the lists?

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

When the tea-things were removed, and the card-tables placed, the ladies all rose, and Elizabeth was then hoping to be soon joined by him, when all her views were overthrown by seeing him fall a victim to her mother's rapacity for whist players, and in a few moments after seated with the rest of the party.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

For a great while it was so, but at last the longing grew stronger, it overthrew caution, and she found herself talking of what she should do when she went home before she was aware.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

All that he said threw greatly into the shade Cornelius Agrippa, Albertus Magnus, and Paracelsus, the lords of my imagination; but by some fatality the overthrow of these men disinclined me to pursue my accustomed studies.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

And when he had overthrown the strange dog the gang went in to finish it.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

Pike, who had been trembling abjectly, took heart at this open mutiny, and sprang upon his overthrown leader.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)