Meaning & use

override

verb·Academic

To use one's authority to reject, replace, or set aside a decision, rule, or system.

See it in a sentence

The manager overrode the automatic booking system to fit in an emergency appointment.

Congress can override a presidential veto with a two-thirds majority vote in both chambers.

A note on using this word

Override often implies using a higher level of authority or a special mechanism to bypass a normal process, rather than simply disagreeing.

Words with a similar meaning

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

Another way to use it

2. noun

A device, control, or command that lets someone bypass an automatic system.

The pilot flipped the manual override to disengage the autopilot during the storm.

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