To overstretch means to extend something beyond its safe or reasonable limits. When you pull a rubber band too far, you overstretch it, and it might snap or lose its elasticity. When a gymnast overstretches a muscle, they push it past what it can handle, risking injury.

The word often describes taking on more than you can manage. A student might overstretch themselves by signing up for too many activities: soccer, piano lessons, debate club, and volunteer work all at once. At first, juggling everything seems possible, but soon they're exhausted, rushing from place to place, and not doing their best at anything. A business can overstretch by opening too many new stores before it has enough money or staff to run them properly.

When armies overstretch their supply lines, they push too far into enemy territory and can't get food, ammunition, or reinforcements to their troops. Napoleon's army overstretched itself when it invaded Russia, advancing so far that soldiers couldn't get the supplies they needed.

People and groups try to avoid overstretching by knowing their limits. Sometimes doing fewer things well beats doing many things poorly.