# overthrow

> English word · Verb · IPA /əʊvəˈθɹəʊ/ · frequency rank #12,822

## Definitions
1. To bring about the downfall of (a government, etc.), especially by force; to usurp.
2. To throw down to the ground, to overturn.

## Etymology
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.

## Easily confused with
- **overthrown** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/overthrow-vs-overthrown)
- **overthrew** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/overthrew-vs-overthrow)

## Common misspellings (14)
`oevrthrow`, `overhtrow`, `overrthrow`, `overthhrow`, `overthorw`, `overthroww`, `overthrrow`, `overthrwo`, `overtrhow`, `overtthrow`, `ovetrhrow`, `ovrethrow`, `ovverthrow`, `voerthrow`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/overthrow