overthrow
over·throw/ˌoʊvɚˈθɹoʊ/verb, noun
overthrow is spelled O-V-E-R-T-H-R-O-W: 9 letters and 2 syllables (over·throw). It appears 4.1 times per million words in written English, the 12,764th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a verb, overthrow means “To bring about the downfall of (a government, etc.), especially by force; to usurp” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in overthrow?
| Letters | 9: O-V-E-R-T-H-R-O-W |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2: over·throw |
| In writing | 4.1 times per million words; the 12,764th 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; 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 overthrow?
Overthrow appears 4.1 times per million words in written English, the 12,764th 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 overthrow?
- UK /əʊvəˈθɹəʊ/
- US /ˌoʊvɚˈθɹoʊ/
As a noun (“A removal, especially of a ruler or government, by force or…”): /ˈəʊvəθɹəʊ/, /ˈoʊvɚˌθɹoʊ/.
Overthrow has 2 syllables, split over·throw in writing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: En-us-overthrow.ogg, En-au-overthrow.ogg, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
What rhymes with overthrow?
The 12 most written words on PlainSpell end in the same sounds as overthrow from its last stressed vowel (/oʊ/):
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 overthrow
- overthrows present, singular, he/she/it, plural
- overthrowing participle, present
- overthrew past
- overthrown participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does overthrow mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
verb
- 1
To bring about the downfall of (a government, etc.), especially by force; to usurp.
I hate the current government, but not enough to want to overthrow them.
- 2
archaicTo throw down to the ground, to overturn.
- 3
To throw (something) so that it goes too far.
He overthrew first base, for an error.
noun
- 1
A removal, especially of a ruler or government, by force or threat of force; usurpation.
- 2
archaicrareAn act of throwing something to the ground; an overturning.
- 3
A throw that goes too far.
He overthrew the ball and it went for four runs.
- 4
A run scored by the batting side when a fielder throws the ball back to the infield, whence it continues to the opposite outfield.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Overthrow in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | renverser, déposer |
| German | stürzen, umstürzen , umwerfen , Umsturz |
| Portuguese | derrocar, derrubar, depor, golpe de estado |
| Spanish | derrocar, derribar , derrocamiento, deposición |
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 overthrow come from?
From Middle English overthrowen, equivalent to over- + throw. Compare Dutch overdraaien, German überdrehen, Old English oferweorpan (“to overthrow”). For the noun sense, compare Middle English overthrow, overthrowe (“destruction, downfall”), from the verb.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).