overthrow
Base form
overthrow
/ˌəʊvəˈθrəʊ//ˌəʊvərˈθrəʊ/
Past simple
overthrew
/ˌəʊvəˈθruː//ˌəʊvərˈθruː/
Past participle
overthrown
/ˌəʊvəˈθrəʊn//ˌəʊvərˈθrəʊn/
MeaningC1
to remove a leader or government from power by force
to overthrow a dictator
In use
- After a modal verb · Form 1The army could overthrow the government at any moment.
- Question · Form 1Will the people overthrow the dictator?
- Past simple · Form 2In the 1790s the French people overthrew their king.
- Past simple · Form 2Last year the army overthrew the president.
- Passive · Form 3The government was overthrown in a military coup.
- Past perfect · Form 3By the end of 1917 the Russians had overthrown the Tsar.
Watch out
Overthrew in the past, overthrown after was or has, like threw, thrown. Overthrowed and overthrewn are wrong.
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