overshoot

Etymology

over- + shoot

noun

1. (countable) The amount by which something goes too far.
   Let's see if we can predict and correct for the overshoot.
2. (countable, ecology) When the population of a species exceeds its environment's carrying capacity.
   With appropriate choice and action such uncontrolled decline could be avoided; overshoot could instead be resolved by a conscious effort to reduce humanity's demand on the planet. 2004, Donella Meadows, Jorgen Randers, Dennis Meadows, “Author's preface”, in Limits to Growth: The 30-Year Update
3. (uncountable, typography, design) The portion of a letter extending above the capline of other letters of the same font, or the relative degree of such extent.
   The portion resting beyond the capline or baseline is called overshoot. 2019, Reece Patton, Formatting for Print
   The bowl of the D and the O are usually not identical, as most D forms do not have overshoot or undershoot. 2020, Karen Cheng, Designing Type, 2nd edition, page 88

verb

1. To go past something; to go too far.
   When you drive, you must remember to not overshoot the parking space and end up with two wheels over the line.
   As a result of the accident at Southend Airport when a Hermes aircraft overshot the runway and fouled the down Shenfield to Southend Victoria line between Rochford and Prittlewell, the Eastern Region is considering warning arrangements, which have already been provided on some lines running past aerodromes. 1961 November, “Talking of Trains: Aircraft on rail tracks”, in Trains Illustrated, page 650
   A ScotRail Driver: … A good friend of mine overshot two stations back-to-back a couple of years ago. He tried to stop at one station and slid by it. Tried to stop at the next station. He slid by that, too. December 15 2021, Paul Clifton, “There is nothing you can do”, in RAIL, number 946, page 37
2. To shoot beyond; to shoot too far to hit something.
3. To pass swiftly over; to fly beyond.
4. (figurative) To exceed.
   to overshoot the truth
   That fire abated that impells rash youth, Proud of his speed to overshoot the truth, 1782, William Cowper, “Conversation”, in Poems: by William Cowper, of the Inner Temple, Esq., →OCLC
   Measured this way humanity was last at sustainable levels in the 1980s. Now it has overshot by some 20 percent. 2004, Donella Meadows, Jorgen Randers, Dennis Meadows, “Author's preface”, in Limits to Growth: The 30-Year Update
   The amount a letter overshoots is based on the design, but your eye shouldn’t notice it. 2019, Reece Patton, Formatting for Print
5. (reflexive) To venture too far; to overreach (oneself).