overrule
/ˌoʊ.vɚˈɹul/verb
overrule is spelled O-V-E-R-R-U-L-E: 8 letters and 3 syllables. It appears about once in every 2 million words in written English, the 40,267th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a verb, overrule means “To rule over; to govern or determine by superior authority” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in overrule?
| Letters | 8: O-V-E-R-R-U-L-E |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 3 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | about once in every 2 million words; the 40,267th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
| Rhymes with |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation and the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media); rhymes and same-letter words are computed by PlainSpell from its own word list.
How common is overrule?
Overrule appears about once in every 2 million words in written English, the 40,267th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce overrule?
- UK /ˌəʊ.vəˈɹuːl/
- US /ˌoʊ.vɚˈɹul/
Overrule has 3 syllables (counted from its American pronunciation in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-overrule.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
What rhymes with overrule?
9 words on PlainSpell end in the same sounds as overrule from its last stressed vowel (/ul/):
Computed by PlainSpell from the pronunciations in the English Wiktionary (dump of September 2, 2026): a rhyme shares every sound from the last stressed vowel to the end; ordered by written frequency (wordfreq 3.1).
Forms of overrule
- overrules present, singular, he/she/it
- overruling participle, present
- overruled participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does overrule mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
verb
- 1
To rule over; to govern or determine by superior authority.
- 2
To rule or determine in a contrary way; to decide against; to abrogate or alter.
- 3
To nullify a previous ruling by a higher power.
The line judge signalled the ball was in, but this was overruled by the umpire.
- 4
To dismiss or throw out (a protest or objection) at a court.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Overrule in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
In the sense to nullify a previous ruling:
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| Spanish | no ha lugar (overruled), casar |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does overrule come from?
From over- + rule.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).