overcommit
/ˌoʊvər.kəˈmɪt/to promise or allocate more resources, time, or effort than one can reasonably fulfill
The company overcommitted to its quarterly goals and had to lay off employees.
The company set unrealistic targets and couldn't meet them, leading to layoffs.
He overcommitted to social events and ended up canceling several due to exhaustion.
He accepted too many invitations and couldn't attend all of them.
Often used in professional or personal contexts where time management is critical.
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💡Pro Tip
Avoiding overcommitment
Prioritize tasks and set realistic deadlines to prevent overcommitment.
⚡Gold Rule
Balancing commitments
Always leave buffer time between tasks to account for unexpected delays.
📖Word Origin
From 'over-' (excessively) + 'commit' (to pledge or assign). First recorded in the mid-20th century.
📝Usage Notes
Common in business and personal time management contexts. Can imply poor planning or overconfidence.