overpromise
overpromise — verb
- overpromisepresent simple I / you / we / they
- overpromises3rd person singular
- overpromising-ing form
- overpromisedpast simple
1. to say you will do or provide more than you can realistically achieve, often cre
to say you will do or provide more than you can realistically achieve, often creating disappointment later
The sales team promised fast delivery, but they had overpromised as usual.
intransitive use in past perfect
Feng knew the client would be disappointed if he overpromised on the project timeline.
overpromise + on + noun phrase
Start-ups often overpromise what their technology can achieve in the first year.
Noor warned her colleague not to overpromise the scope of the software update.
- oversell
focuses on making something sound better than it is, especially in selling; more informal than overpromise
- exaggerate
broader meaning — can apply to size, importance, or difficulty, not just commitments
- overstate
emphasises saying something is larger or more important than reality, not necessarily as a promise
- underpromise
the direct opposite — to promise less than you think you can deliver
文法句型
overpromise
overpromise + noun phrase
overpromise + on + noun phrase
overpromise + wh-clause
用法筆記
Subject is typically a person, company, or organisation making a commitment. Common in business, sales, and political contexts, often paired with 'underdeliver' to describe a failure gap.
常見錯誤
overpromise — noun
- overpromisesingular
- overpromisesplural
1. a stated intention to deliver more than is realistically possible, creating expe
a stated intention to deliver more than is realistically possible, creating expectations that cannot be met
The company's claim that the app would save ten hours a week was a clear overpromise.
countable noun after indefinite article
Investors grew sceptical after a series of overpromises from the start-up.
plural form: overpromises
Apinya saw the advertisement as an overpromise and decided not to buy the product.
The renovation contract contained several overpromises about the completion date.
- empty promise
stronger tone — suggests bad faith or no intention to deliver, not just unrealistic optimism
- exaggeration
broader — can apply to any overstatement, not just commitments
- underpromise
a promise that intentionally sets expectations low (also used as a noun)
文法句型
an overpromise
overpromise + of + noun phrase
overpromise + about + noun phrase
用法筆記
Frequently appears in the plural when listing multiple unrealistic claims. Typically refers to claims made by companies, salespeople, or politicians about what they can deliver.