To overstep means to go beyond proper or acceptable limits. When you overstep, you cross a boundary you should have respected, like a soccer player who oversteps the sideline and goes out of bounds, or a friend who oversteps by reading your private journal without permission.

The word often appears in the phrase overstep your bounds or overstep your authority. A class monitor oversteps their authority if they start telling other students what to do instead of just helping classmates. A younger sibling oversteps when they walk into your room and start using your things without asking.

Sometimes people overstep accidentally because they don't realize where the boundary is. Other times they know exactly what they're doing but choose to push past the limit anyway. A guest at your house oversteps when they open your refrigerator and help themselves without asking first. It's not a terrible crime, but it crosses a line of courtesy and respect.

Understanding where boundaries lie takes attention and good judgment. When someone tells you that you've overstepped, they're letting you know you've gone too far.