# overthrow

/ˈoʊvɝˌθɹoʊ/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/overthrow
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. to remove a government

verb · CEFR B2

to remove a leader or a government from power, usually by using force.

For teachers: to remove a government or leader from power by force or through a popular uprising. Transitive — requires a direct object representing the authority being removed.

- The citizens gathered in the square to overthrow the cruel dictator.
- The military junta attempted to overthrow the democratically elected government, leading to months of civil unrest and international sanctions.

### 3. removal of a leader

noun · CEFR B2

the act of removing a government or leader by force.

For teachers: the act of removing a ruler or government from power, especially by force or threat. Countable or uncountable depending on the context of the event.

- The sudden overthrow of the king surprised the entire world.
- Historians still debate whether the overthrow of the regime was a spontaneous popular movement or a carefully planned conspiracy by the elite.

## Examples

- The rebels plan to overthrow the cruel dictator.
- The military group attempted to overthrow the government during the night, but the citizens blocked the streets.
- Historians often debate whether the internal economic collapse was more significant than the external military pressure in the eventual overthrow of the ruling dynasty.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.