• Verb senses:
  • (RP) IPA: /əʊvəˈθɹəʊ/
  • (GA) IPA: /ˌoʊvɚˈθɹoʊ/
• Noun senses:
  • (RP) IPA: /ˈəʊvəθɹəʊ/
  • (GA) IPA: /ˈoʊvɚˌθɹoʊ/

overthrow (overthrows, present participle overthrowing; past overthrew, past participle overthrown)

1. (transitive) To bring about the downfall of (a government, etc.), especially by force#Noun|force.

   I hate the current government, but not enough to want to overthrow them.

   • 1591, William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Sixt”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358 ↗, [Act I, scene iii], page 99 ↗, column 2:

     Here's Gloſter, a Foe to Citizens, / One that ſtill motions Warre, and neuer Peace, / overcharging#English|O're-charging your free Purſes with large Fines; / That ſeeks to ouerthrow Religion, / Becauſe he is Protector of the Realme; {{...}

   • 1825 June 21, [Walter Scott], chapter IV, in Tales of the Crusaders. [...] In Four Volumes, volume I (The Betrothed), Edinburgh: Printed [by James Ballantyne and Co.] for Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Hurst, Robinson, and Co., OCLC 5584494 ↗, page 71 ↗:

     Wounded and overthrown, the Britons continued their resistance, clung round the legs of the Norman steeds, and cumbered their advance; while their brethren, thrusting with pikes, proved every joint and crevice of the plate and mail, or grappling with the men-at-arms, strove to pull them from their horses by main force, or beat them down with their bills and Welch hooks.

2. (transitive, now, rare) To throw#Verb|throw down to the ground#Noun|ground, to overturn.
   • [1526], [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamēt […] (Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany: Peter Schöffer], OCLC 762018299 ↗; republished as The New Testament of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ: Published in 1526. […], London: Samuel Bagster, […], 1836, OCLC 679500256 ↗, John II:[15], folio lxxvii, recto, page [252] ↗:

     And he [Jesus] made a scourge off small cordes, and drave them all out off the temple, bothe shepe and oxen, and powred doune the changers money, and overthrue their tables.

   • a. 1701, John Dryden, “The Last Parting of Hector and Andromache. From the Sixth Book of the {{w”, in The Miscellaneous Works of John Dryden, […], volume IV, London: Printed for J[acob] and R[ichard] Tonson, […], published 1760, OCLC 863244003 ↗, pages 451–452 ↗:

     I have no parents, friends, nor brothers left; / By ſtern {{w

• French: renverser, déposer
• German: stürzen, umstürzen
• Italian: deporre, rovesciare
• Portuguese: derrocar, derrubar, depor, golpe de estado
• Russian: сверга́ть
• Spanish: derrocar, derribar

overthrow (plural overthrows)

1. A removal, especially of a ruler or government, by force#Noun|force or threat#Noun|threat of force.
   • 1599, William Shakespeare, “The Life of Henry the Fift”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358 ↗, [Act IV, scene iii], page 87 ↗, column 1:

     Once more I come to know of thee King Harry, / If for thy Ranſome thou wilt now compound, / Before thy moſt aſſured Ouerthrow: {{...}

   • 1945 August 17, George Orwell [pseudonym; Eric Arthur Blair], chapter 1, in Animal Farm: A Fairy Story, London: Secker & Warburg, OCLC 3655473 ↗:

     What then must we do? Why, work night and day, body and soul, for the overthrow of the human race!

2. (archaic, rare) An act of throw#Verb|throwing something to the ground#Noun|ground; an overturning#Noun|overturning.

• German: Umsturz
• Russian: сверже́ние
• Spanish: derrocamiento, deposición

overthrow (overthrows, present participle overthrowing; past overthrew, past participle overthrown)

1. (transitive, intransitive) To throw#Verb|throw (something) so that it goes too far.

   He overthrew first base, for an error.

overthrow (plural overthrows)

1. (sports) A throw#Noun|throw that goes too far.
   1. (cricket) A run#Noun|run score#Verb|scored by the batting#Adjective|batting side#Noun|side when a fielder throws the ball#Noun|ball back to the infield, whence it continues to the opposite outfield.