Overwrite vs. Override

Overwrite (verb)

To destroy (older data) by recording new data over it.

“I accidentally saved my unwanted changes and overwrote the version of the document I wanted to keep.”

Overwrite (verb)

To cover in writing; to write over the top of.

Overwrite (verb)

To write too much.

Overwrite (verb)

To write in an unnecessarily complicated or florid way; to produce purple prose.

Overwrite (noun)

The operation of destroying older data by recording new data over it.

Override (verb)

To ride across or beyond something.

Override (verb)

To ride a horse too hard.

Override (verb)

To counteract the normal operation of something; to countermand with orders of higher priority.

“The Congress promptly overrode the president’s veto, passing the bill into law.”

Override (verb)

To define a new behaviour of a method by creating the same method of the superclass with the same name and signature.

“How the cat runs is defined in the method run() of the class Cat, which overrides the same method with the same signature of superclass called Mammal.”

Override (noun)

A mechanism, device or procedure used to counteract an automatic control.

Override (noun)

A royalty.

Override (noun)

A device for prioritizing audio signals, such that certain signals receive priority over others.

Overwrite (verb)

write on top of (other writing)

“many names had been scratched out or overwritten”

Overwrite (verb)

destroy (data) by entering new data in its place

“an entry stating who is allowed to overwrite the file”

Overwrite (verb)

another term for overtype

Overwrite (verb)

write too elaborately or ornately

“there is a tendency to overwrite their parts and fall into cliché”

Overwrite (verb)

(in insurance) accept more risk than the premium income limits allow.

Override (verb)

use one’s authority to reject or cancel (a decision, view, etc.)

“the courts will ultimately override any objections”

Override (verb)

be more important than

“this commitment should override all other considerations”

Override (verb)

interrupt the action of (an automatic device), typically in order to take manual control

“you can override the cut-out by releasing the switch”

Override (verb)

extend over; overlap

“the external rendering should not override the damp-proof membrane”

Override (verb)

travel or move over

“overriding by vehicles is implicated in over half the cases of footway damage”

Override (noun)

a device for suspending an automatic function on a machine

“the flash has to have a manual override to be useful”

Override (noun)

an excess or increase on a budget, salary, or cost

“commission overrides give established carriers an unfair advantage”

Override (noun)

a cancellation of a decision by exertion of authority or winning of votes

“the House vote in favour of the bill was 10 votes short of the requisite majority for an override”