overrule

verb

over·​rule ˌō-vər-ˈrül 

ˌō-və-

overruled; overruling; overrules

transitive verb

1

: to rule over : govern

2

: to prevail over : overcome

3

a

: to rule against

b

: to set aside : reverse

Examples of overrule in a Sentence

The judge overruled the objection.

His conviction was overruled by the supreme court.

Recent Examples on the Web

Except, the line judge calls it out and the referee immediately overrules it. —Todd Boss, Forbes, 26 Dec. 2024

In May, a federal court in Sydney ruled that he could be extradited, overruling pleas from Duggan and his family, including his wife and six children in Australia. —Brad Dress, The Hill, 23 Dec. 2024

The judge overruled the hearsay objection and allowed the redacted email to be introduced. —Jim Talamonti | The Center Square Contributor, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 20 Dec. 2024

Photograph by Diego Ibarra Sánchez / NYT / Redux There was a story in ProPublica last week that Blinken had overruled a State Department bureau and U.S.A.I.D., which both reported that Israel was deliberately blocking aid to Gaza. —Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1576, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

overrule

verb

over·​rule -ˈrül 

1

: to decide against

the judge overruled the objection

2

: to reverse or set aside (a decision or ruling made by a lesser authority)

Legal Definition

overrule

transitive verb

over·​rule ˌō-vər-ˈrül 

1

: to rule against

the objection was overruled

compare sustain

2

a

: to rule against upon review by virtue of a higher authority : set aside, reverse

the appeals court overruled the trial court's decision

b

: to set aside as a precedent or guide

did not intend to overrule prior jurisprudence in that area

refused to overrule the landmark case

compare follow