ENGLISH
REFERENCE

overthrow

v.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈoʊvɝˌθɹoʊ// over·throw Archaic

v. to remove a leader or a government from power by using force. It usually happens during a revolution or a war.

v. to remove from power by force; to forcibly depose a government or ruler. Transitive — requires a direct object representing the entity being removed.


SIMPLE

The rebels plan to overthrow the cruel dictator.

CONTEXTUAL

The military group attempted to overthrow the government during the night, but the citizens blocked the streets.

COMPLEX

Historians often debate whether the internal economic collapse was more significant than the external military pressure in the eventual overthrow of the ruling dynasty.

Synonyms
Etymology 1

From Middle English overthrowen, equivalent to over- + throw. Compare Dutch overdraaien, German überdrehen, Old English oferweorpan (“to overthrow”). For the noun sense, compare Middle English overthrow, overthrowe (“destruction, downfall”), from the verb.

Etymology 2

From over- + throw.

Usage

The verb is transitive and takes a direct object.

Pitfall

The people overthrew to the kingThe people overthrew the kingOverthrow is a transitive verb and does not take the preposition 'to' before its object.

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