overdrive

noun

over·​drive ˈō-vər-ˌdrīv 

1

: an automotive transmission gear that transmits to the drive shaft a speed greater than engine speed

2

: a state of heightened activity

going into rhetorical overdrive

Examples of overdrive in a Sentence

He put the car into overdrive.

His acting career is in overdrive.

The reporters went into overdrive to finish their stories on time.

Recent Examples on the Web

The authoritarian one-party state is preparing for a key party congress this month, a time when North Korea’s propaganda machine and displays of its military often kick into overdrive. —Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 19 Feb. 2026

Without that, the use of AI could go down as the point at which the 21st century’s scramble for Africa went into overdrive. —Alexis Akwagyiram, semafor.com, 13 Feb. 2026

Rumors of a budding romance between Kim Kardashian and F1 star Lewis Hamilton just got kicked into overdrive. —Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 9 Feb. 2026

Beyoncé hit the stage amid career overdrive. —Chris Sprow, New York Times, 6 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1926, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for overdrive

• alive
• archive
• arrive
• beehive
• connive
• contrive
• deprive
• derive
• revive
• survive
• dive
• drive

Kids Definition

overdrive

noun

over·​drive ˈō-vər-ˌdrīv 

: a transmission gear in an automobile that allows the drive shaft to operate at a speed greater than that of the engine crankshaft