What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
overturn
Example
The strong winds caused the boat to overturn. [overturn: verb]
Example
The court decided to overturn the previous ruling. [overturned: past participle]
overthrow
Example
The rebels planned to overthrow the dictator. [overthrow: verb]
Example
The revolution resulted in the overthrow of the monarchy. [overthrow: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Overturn is more commonly used than overthrow in everyday language. Overturn is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while overthrow is less common and has a stronger negative connotation.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between overturn and overthrow?
Both overturn and overthrow can be used in formal and informal contexts, but overthrow is more commonly used in formal or academic writing due to its political or historical implications.
