[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/overriding/)

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# overriding

adjective (overriding); also the -ing form of the verb override (override, overrides, overrode, overridden, overriding)

«overriding» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. adjective: More important than anything else: "Safety is the overriding concern." [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/overriding/#m1)
2. verb form: Cancelling or taking control of a decision, setting or machine, as in "overriding the alarm" or "overriding a rule". [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/overriding/#m2)

### In the lessons

In formal writing and the news, "the overriding aim / concern / priority" means the most important one. In computing and machines, overriding a setting means taking manual control. In school rules, a teacher may be overriding an earlier decision. Phrases: overriding concern, overriding importance, overriding priority.

### Examples

- Safety is the overriding concern on a school trip. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/overriding/#x1)
- Her overriding wish was to see her grandmother again. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/overriding/#x2)
- The pilot was overriding the autopilot to land the plane. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/overriding/#x3)
- Winning was not the overriding aim; having fun was. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/overriding/#x4)
- The head teacher is overriding the old rule about phones. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/overriding/#x5)
- Of overriding importance is that everyone gets home safely. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/overriding/#x6)

### Note

"Overriding" (most important) is quite formal. The verb is irregular: override, overrode, overridden. Do not confuse with "overwriting" (writing over something, like saving over a file).

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «overriding» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/overriding/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«overriding» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/overriding.html) on Mova free.