Overstep
/ˌəʊvərˈstep/verb
To go beyond what is allowed or acceptable.
He overstepped his authority when he dismissed the employees without permission.
Often appears as...
- overstep the mark
- overstep the bounds
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Authority Limits
Refers to exceeding limitations in roles, especially position or power-related decisions.
The committee chairperson overstepped by changing the rules without consulting members.
Pro Tip 2/3Implicit Permission
Implies going beyond unsaid boundaries of what’s implicitly permitted or understood in a situation.
By criticizing the manager in public, he overstepped unspoken workplace norms.
Pro Tip 3/3Behavioral Excess
Used when someone’s actions or behavior go too far in a social or interpersonal context.
She overstepped by reprimanding someone else’s child at the park.
Compare with
exceedancego beyondinfringeoutstripsurpasstranscendtrespassviolate
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