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overdrive

[ verb oh-ver-drahyv; noun oh-ver-drahyv ]

verb (used with object)

, o·ver·drove, o·ver·driv·en, o·ver·driv·ing.
  1. to push or carry to excess; overwork.
  2. to drive too hard.


noun

  1. Machinery, Automotive. a device containing a gear set at such ratio and arrangement as to provide a drive shaft speed greater than the engine crankshaft speed.
  2. Also called hyperdrive. Informal. a state of intense activity or productivity:

    The political campaign has shifted into overdrive.

overdrive

noun

  1. a very high gear in a motor vehicle used at high speeds to reduce wear and save fuel
  2. in overdrive
    in a state of intense activity
  3. into overdrive
    into a state of intense activity


verb

  1. tr to drive too hard or too far; overwork or overuse

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Word History and Origins

Origin of overdrive1

First recorded before 950; Middle English overdriven “to cover over, overpower”; Old English oferdrīfan “to drive away, overthrow”; equivalent to over- ( def ) + drive ( def )

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Example Sentences

They also didn’t make enough of certain proteins that are vital for attacking viruses and keeping the immune response from dangerously going into overdrive.

The pandemic has put America’s shift into virtual community-making into overdrive.

Without care, they can trigger the immune system to go into overdrive—a dangerous condition that could result in serious problems.

With Wall back on court, Washington expects what was an already speedy offense to kick into overdrive.

When it goes into overdrive, the immune system can cause additional damage.

When I put their allegations to Epstein, he denied them and went into overdrive.

The Tea Party hate machine has gone into overdrive in South Carolina, so how has Lindsey Graham survived so comfortably?

Newspapers in the U.K. went into overdrive as they speculated about the likelihood of a fresh royal wedding.

The back and forth has sent the gossip blogs into overdrive.

The Palestinian Arab propaganda machine is in overdrive once again.

To overdrive the willingest troops any General ever had under his command is a sin—but we must go on fighting to-morrow!

There isn't a team in the country gets more grooming than those colts, and not a man has been known to overdrive them.

The distance was too short for even the briefest of overdrive hops, but it would take time to get there on solar-system drive.

A ship in overdrive feels exactly as if it were buried deep in the core of a planet.

A long time later Calhoun heard small sounds which were not normal on a Med Ship in overdrive.

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