English edit

Etymology edit

From over- +‎ rule.

Pronunciation edit

Verb edit

overrule (third-person singular simple present overrules, present participle overruling, simple past and past participle overruled)

  1. (transitive) To rule over; to govern or determine by superior authority.
  2. (transitive) To rule or determine in a contrary way; to decide against; to abrogate or alter.
  3. (transitive) To nullify a previous ruling by a higher power.
    The line judge signalled the ball was in, but this was overruled by the umpire.
    • 2008, BioWare, Mass Effect (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →ISBN, →OCLC, PC, scene: Normandy SR-1:
      Tali: It's my father. He's the senior member of the Admiralty Board. He's one of only five people who can overrule the decisions of the Conclave for the good of the Migrant Fleet.
      Tali: My father is responsible for the lives of seventeen million people -- our entire race is in his hands. And I'm his only child.
    • 2020 December 9, Drachinifel, 20:18 from the start, in Guadalcanal Campaign - Cape Esperance (IJN 1 : 2 USN)[1], archived from the original on 4 December 2022:
      Scott, somewhat stunned and now worried that everybody might have opened fire at the U.S. destroyers (he presumably missed Laffey and Farenholt merrily blazing away with their own guns into the darkness), ordered all firing to cease after a couple of minutes. Helena, along with Boise, was already several hundred shells lighter, and both Boise and San Francisco herself actually kept firing, as their captains were utterly sure about their targets; San Francisco's captain was very apologetic as he overruled Admiral Scott.
  4. (transitive, law) To dismiss or throw out (a protest or objection) at a court.

Translations edit

Dutch edit

Pronunciation edit

Verb edit

overrule

  1. inflection of overrulen:
    1. first-person singular present indicative
    2. (dated or formal) singular present subjunctive
    3. imperative