Overmatch

//ˌəʊvə(ɹ)ˈmætʃ// noun, verb

noun, verb ·Uncommon ·Advanced level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A match in which one opponent is greatly superior to the other.

    "[…] we can increase the velocity of that force, so as to make it an overmatch for its antagonist."

  2. 2
    An opponent who is more than a match for another; one who cannot be defeated.

    "For Memnon […] fought hand to hand with his overmatch, and met his boyish and most dolorous death beneath the walls of Troy."

Verb
  1. 1
    To match more than intended. intransitive, transitive

    "The regular expression overmatched, capturing the entire paragraph instead of the specific sentence."

  2. 2
    To be more than equal to or a match for, to surpass; hence, to conquer, vanquish.

    "And wel his merits ſhew him to be made His Fortunes maiſter, and the king of men. That could perſwade at ſuch a ſodaine pinch, With reaſons of his valour and his life, A thouſand ſworne and ouer-matching foes:"

  3. 3
    To marry (someone) to a superior. transitive

    "If a yeoman have one sole daughter, he must overmatch her, above her birth and calling, to a gentleman forsooth, because of her great portion […]"

Synonyms

All synonyms
deckexceedexcelflooroutclassoutdo

Example

More examples

"The regular expression overmatched, capturing the entire paragraph instead of the specific sentence."

Etymology

From Middle English overmacchen, equivalent to over- + match.

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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.