overwork

[ verb oh-ver-wurk; noun oh-ver-wurk ]
See synonyms for: overworkoverworkedoverwrought on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)
  1. to cause to work too hard, too much, or too long; weary or exhaust with work (often used reflexively): Don't overwork yourself on that new job.

  2. to work up, stir up, or excite excessively: to overwork a mob to the verge of frenzy.

  1. to employ or elaborate to excess: an appeal for sympathy that has been overworked by many speakers.

  2. to work or decorate all over; decorate the surface of: white limestone overworked with inscriptions.

verb (used without object)
  1. to work too hard, too much, or too long; work to excess: You look as though you've been overworking.

noun
  1. work beyond one's strength or capacity.

  2. extra or excessive work.

Origin of overwork

1
before 1000; Old English oferwyrcan.See over-, work

Words Nearby overwork

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use overwork in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for overwork

overwork

verb(ˌəʊvəˈwɜːk) (mainly tr)
  1. (also intr) to work or cause to work too hard or too long

  2. to use too much: to overwork an excuse

  1. to decorate the surface of

  2. to work up

noun(ˈəʊvəˌwɜːk)
  1. excessive or excessively tiring work

Derived forms of overwork

  • overworked, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012