Meaning & use
overridden
Last updated
“overridden” is a form of “override”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
verbtransitive
Set aside a decision, rule, or order by using higher authority or stronger power.
Grammar: Takes an object and is often passive: the veto was overridden.
Patterns
- be overridden by someone
- override a decision
The governor's veto was overridden by a two-thirds vote.
The judge's ruling was overridden on appeal.
Her objections were overridden by the rest of the committee.
verbtransitivetechnical
Taken over by a manual control or stronger setting so that an automatic system no longer works as set.
Grammar: Often in the passive or with has/have: the alarm has been overridden.
Patterns
- be overridden manually
- overridden by a setting
The autopilot was overridden by the pilot during landing.
The default setting was overridden by the user's choice.
Once the safety switch is overridden, the machine starts.
verbtransitive
Proved more important than other things, so that they no longer count.
Grammar: Often passive with by: his doubts were overridden by excitement.
Patterns
- overridden by something
Her fear was overridden by her curiosity.
Concerns about cost were overridden by safety needs.
Word forms
| base form | override |
|---|---|
| third person singular | overrides |
| past tense | overrode |
| past participle | overridden |
| -ing form | overriding |
Common combinations
- overridden veto
- The overridden veto allowed the bill to become law.
- overridden by
- His decision was overridden by the board.
- manually overridden
- The lock was manually overridden by the technician.
- overridden setting
- The overridden setting returned to default after a restart.
- be overridden
- A local rule can be overridden by national law.
Synonyms and how they differ
- overruled
- Overruled is used mainly for decisions by a person or court in authority, while overridden can also describe systems and settings.
- canceled
- Canceled means ended completely, whereas overridden means set aside for now while the original may still exist.
- bypassed
- Bypassed means avoided or gone around, but overridden means actively replaced by something stronger.
- superseded
- Superseded means replaced by something newer, rather than blocked by a higher authority.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: overridden or overrode?
overridden vs overrode
Overrode is the simple past tense, while overridden is the past participle used with has, have, or be: he overrode the setting, but the setting was overridden.
Practice
The committee's recommendation was ___ by the director.
Choose one answer.
After was, a past participle is needed, and overridden is the past participle of override. Overrode is only the simple past tense.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “overridden”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.