overgo

/əʊvəˈɡəʊ/

//əʊvəˈɡəʊ// verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"overgo" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“overgo” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as a verb - the kind of word writers most often double-check.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
6
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To cross, go over (a barrier etc.); to surmount.

Key facts for overgo
PropertyValue
Headwordovergo
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/əʊvəˈɡəʊ/
Letters6
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “overgo” sits in English frequency

overgo falls outside the top-100,000 ranked English words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for overgo is 6 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /əʊvəˈɡəʊ/. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. Wiktionary records 9 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

overgo has no tracked misspelling variants, a sign its spelling follows regular English conventions. No confusable counterpart is on file for this word, since no other headword is close enough in sound or shape to pair with it.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English overgon, from Old English ofergān (“to pass over, beyond, across, traverse, cross, transgress, overstep, overrun, overcome, overspread, conquer, come upon, overtake, seize, attack, pass off, pass away, end, overreach”), equivalent to ove… The correct English form is overgo, spelled O-V-E-R-G-O.

Definition

  1. 1
    To cross, go over (a barrier etc.); to surmount.
  2. 2
    To pass (a figurative barrier); to transgress.
  3. 3
    To pass by, pass away; often, to go unnoticed.
  4. 4
    To spread across (something); to overrun.
  5. 5
    To go over, move over the top of, travel across the surface of; to traverse, travel through.
  6. 6
    To go beyond; to exceed, surpass.
  7. 7
    To get the better of; to overcome, overpower.
  8. 8
    To overtake, go faster than.
  9. 9
    To cover.

Etymology

From Middle English overgon, from Old English ofergān (“to pass over, beyond, across, traverse, cross, transgress, overstep, overrun, overcome, overspread, conquer, come upon, overtake, seize, attack, pass off, pass away, end, overreach”), equivalent to over- + go. Cognate with Dutch overgaan, German übergehen, Swedish övergå.

Synonyms

overcomesuperateoutsteptransgresstranscendgo bypass bybespreadinfestoverspreadcrosspass overexceloutstripexceedbetterdefeatoverwhelmforhalelapoverhaul

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "overgo"?
"overgo" is spelled O-V-E-R-G-O. The IPA pronunciation is /əʊvəˈɡəʊ/.
What does "overgo" mean?
As a verb, "overgo" means: To cross, go over (a barrier etc.); to surmount.
How do you pronounce "overgo"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "overgo" is /əʊvəˈɡəʊ/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "overgo"?
From Middle English overgon, from Old English ofergān (“to pass over, beyond, across, traverse, cross, transgress, overstep, overrun, overcome, overspread, conquer, come upon, overtake, seize, attack, pass off, pass away, end, overreach”), equival... See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “overgo”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is O-V-E-R-G-O - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /əʊvəˈɡəʊ/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list