overthrow
C1Formal, Political, Literary, Sports (cricket/baseball).
Definition
Meaning
To remove someone from power, usually by force; to defeat or end something.
In sports, to throw a ball beyond its intended target; to knock something over or overturn; to cause the downfall or end of a system, idea, or condition.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies a decisive, often sudden or violent, removal of authority or structure. Can refer to physical objects (toppling) but is primarily socio-political. As a noun, it refers to the act itself.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
As a verb, usage is nearly identical. The noun form is slightly more common in political/historical contexts in both varieties. In sports, UK English associates it with cricket (a wild throw), while US English associates it with baseball (a catcher's throw to a base that goes past the fielder).
Connotations
Strongly associated with coups, revolutions, and regime change. Can carry a positive (liberation) or negative (illegitimate seizure) connotation depending on context.
Frequency
Moderate frequency in news/political analysis; low frequency in everyday conversation.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Sb] overthrow [Sb/Stg] (transitive)The rebels overthrew the government.[Stg] be overthrown (passive)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “overthrow the apple cart (rare, variant of 'upset the apple cart')”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. 'The shareholders tried to overthrow the board.'
Academic
Common in history/political science: 'The revolution overthrew the ancien régime.'
Everyday
Uncommon. Might be used metaphorically: 'The new evidence overthrew our old theory.'
Technical
In sports commentary (cricket/baseball): 'A costly overthrow gave them an extra run.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- The overthrow of the monarchy led to a republic.
- He was accused of plotting the overthrow of the government.
- The fielder's overthrow was expensive.
American English
- The revolution resulted in the overthrow of the old order.
- They celebrated the dictator's overthrow.
- The game was lost on a bad overthrow to third base.
verb
British English
- The conspirators plotted to overthrow the king.
- The revolutionary army finally overthrew the corrupt regime.
- A misfield and overthrow conceded four runs.
American English
- The rebels sought to overthrow the dictator.
- The court's decision overthrew a century of legal precedent.
- The catcher's overthrow allowed the runner to score.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The people wanted to overthrow the bad king.
- The overthrow was shown on TV.
- The military junta was overthrown after months of protests.
- The plot to overthrow the elected government failed.
- The philosophical treatise sought to overthrow the prevailing empiricist doctrines.
- The appellate court had the power to overthrow the lower court's ruling.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a king sitting on a THRONE. A rebel pulls a ROPE (OVER) the throne, causing the king to be THROWN OFF. OVER+THROW = to throw over the throne.
Conceptual Metaphor
AUTHORITY IS A PHYSICAL STRUCTURE/OBJECT (that can be toppled/thrown down).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'опрокинуть' (to tip over a physical object) as the primary meaning. The core is political removal.
- Not a direct translation for 'свергать' in all physical contexts; 'topple' or 'knock over' may be better.
- The noun 'overthrow' is 'свержение', not to be confused with 'бросок сверху' (an overhand throw).
Common Mistakes
- *They overthrew *out* the president. (Redundant with 'out')
- Using it for simple election losses: *'The opposition overthrew the PM in the election.' (Use 'defeated' or 'ousted').
- Confusing verb and noun stress: /ˌoʊ.vɚˈθroʊ/ (verb) vs /ˈoʊ.vɚ.θroʊ/ (noun).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'overthrow' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, while most common for governments/regimes, it can be used for any established system, idea, or rule (e.g., 'overthrow a theory', 'overthrow a management style').
'Overthrow' typically refers to people in power or systems. 'Overturn' is more general: it can refer to physical objects (a car), legal decisions, or rules, but not usually a specific person.
Yes. In cricket and baseball, an 'overthrow' is a throw that goes past its intended fielder, allowing batters/runners to advance.
No, it's an irregular verb: overthrow - overthrew - overthrown. 'Overthrowed' is incorrect.