work over
verb
worked over; working over; works over
1
: to subject to thorough examination, study, or treatment
shelf stock worked over by shoppers
2
: to do over : rework
saved the play by working the first act over
3
: to beat up or manhandle with thoroughness
My boxing opponent worked me over in the ring.
Synonyms
- bash
- baste
- bat
- batter
- beat
- belabor
- belt
- birch
- bludgeon
- buffet
- bung up
- club
- curry
- do
- drub
- fib [British]
- flog
- hammer
- hide
- lace
- lambaste
- lambast
- lash
- lather
- lick
- maul
- mess (up)
- paddle
- pelt
- pommel
- pound
- pummel
- punch out
- rough (up)
- slate
- slog
- switch
- tan
- thrash
- thresh
- thump
- tromp
- wallop
- whale
- whip
- whop
- whap
- whup
Examples of work over in a Sentence
the mob boss's thugs really worked him over
Recent Examples on the Web
The 2024 Daytime Emmys gathered TV's favorite soap stars and daytime hosts in Los Angeles to celebrate their work over the past year.
—
Brendan Le, Peoplemag, 8 June 2024
The parties worked over the weekend to hammer out such provisions.
—Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2024
Her work over the years has ranged from pop, folk-rock, trip-hop, electronica and reggaeton to cumbia, ranchera, mariachi, bolero and banda.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 May 2024
In very rare, special instances, a show can make this work over the long haul.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 20 May 2024
Her work over the years has at various times earned a Peabody Award, an Emmy and a Loeb Award.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 17 May 2024
As a result, lawmakers are banking that voters will trust their work over the promises of initiatives 50 and 108.
—Nick Coltrain, The Denver Post, 10 May 2024
Christian reported Wednesday that Newfields has purchased $2.6 million of work over the past three years by artists who are Black, Indigenous, of color and underrepresented.
—Domenica Bongiovanni, The Indianapolis Star, 10 May 2024
In fact, Hubble Network says its technology can work over off-the-shelf Bluetooth chips through a software update, rather than any hardware change.
—Michael Kan, PCMAG, 6 May 2024
Brendan Le, Peoplemag, 8 June 2024
The parties worked over the weekend to hammer out such provisions.
—Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2024
Her work over the years has ranged from pop, folk-rock, trip-hop, electronica and reggaeton to cumbia, ranchera, mariachi, bolero and banda.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 May 2024
In very rare, special instances, a show can make this work over the long haul.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 20 May 2024
Her work over the years has at various times earned a Peabody Award, an Emmy and a Loeb Award.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 17 May 2024
As a result, lawmakers are banking that voters will trust their work over the promises of initiatives 50 and 108.
—Nick Coltrain, The Denver Post, 10 May 2024
Christian reported Wednesday that Newfields has purchased $2.6 million of work over the past three years by artists who are Black, Indigenous, of color and underrepresented.
—Domenica Bongiovanni, The Indianapolis Star, 10 May 2024
In fact, Hubble Network says its technology can work over off-the-shelf Bluetooth chips through a software update, rather than any hardware change.
—Michael Kan, PCMAG, 6 May 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'work over.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near work over
Cite this Entry
“Work over.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/work%20over. Accessed 14 Jun. 2024.
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