override

To use greater authority to cancel or reject a decision or order.

• The manager can override this decision.
• Congress overrode the president’s veto.
• Can the council override the committee’s ruling?

Similar words: overrule, reverse

Common phrases: override a decision, override a veto, override an objection

To take control of a machine by stopping or changing its automatic actions.

• You can override the automatic settings.
• The pilot overrode the landing system.
• Press this button to override the timer.

Similar words: bypass

Common phrases: override the controls, override automatic settings, override the system

To be more important or powerful than something else and determine what happens.

• Safety must override other concerns.
• Her desire to help overrode her fear.
• Public needs should override private interests.

Similar words: outweigh, take precedence over

Common phrases: override other considerations, override personal interests

A control or method that lets someone stop or change a machine’s automatic actions.

• The door has a manual override.
• Use the override if the sensor fails.
• An emergency override lets staff stop the machine.

Common phrases: manual override, emergency override, override switch