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

Those agreements would have to expire or be challenged in court to be overruled. —Mimi Montgomery, Axios, 21 Jan. 2025

The Department of Justice will also seek to overrule Supreme Court precedents that limit the state and federal authority to carry out executions, the order states. —Chiara Eisner, NPR, 21 Jan. 2025

Will Trump exclusively select jurists who have flawless judicial records, are genuine full-spectrum conservatives, demonstrate an eagerness to overrule bad precedent, and have a conservative spouse and attend a theologically conservative house of worship? —Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 17 Jan. 2025

Police officers in Spain are trained to overrule VioGén’s recommendations if evidence warrants doing so, but The Times found that the risk scores were accepted about 95 percent of the time. —Roser Toll Pifarré, New York Times, 17 Jan. 2025

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