# overthrown

/ˌoʊvɝˈθɹoʊn/ (US) · /ˌəʊvəθɹˈəʊn/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/overthrown
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

removed from power by force. You use this to describe a leader or a government that has been defeated and replaced.

For teachers: removed from a position of power or authority by force or strategy. Often used predicatively after a linking verb to describe the state of a fallen regime or leader.

## Examples

- The overthrown leader fled the country.
- After the revolution, the overthrown government was replaced by a temporary council of citizens.
- Historians often debate whether the overthrown monarchy could have survived if it had implemented economic reforms earlier in the decade.

## Usage notes

- Participial adjective; often follows linking verbs like 'be', 'become', or 'remain'.

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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.