overtime

noun

over·​time ˈō-vər-ˌtīm 

1

: time in excess of a set limit: such as

a

: working time in excess of a standard day or week

b

: an extra period of play in a contest

2

: the wage paid for overtime

overtime adverb

Examples of overtime in a Sentence

I worked two hours of overtime last week.

He was doing a lot of overtime to save for his vacation.

How much did you earn last month in overtime?

The game went into overtime.

They lost the game in overtime.

Recent Examples on the Web

The data is now online Suarez placed an item on the July 22 commission agenda calling for discussion of overtime practices in the police and fire departments. — Aaron Leibowitz, Miami Herald, 7 Aug. 2026

Arizona’s Carson Beck and King — two NFL rookies who once faced off in an eight-overtime college thriller won by Georgia’s Beck over Georgia Tech’s King — threw swords at each other throughout that second quarter. — Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 7 Aug. 2026

Team Gray, coached by Kimani Young on Friday, has been losing more scrimmages than winning, but prevailed in overtime with a winning shot by — guess who? — Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 7 Aug. 2026

As for the overtime accusations, Parks said there has never been a pay issue. — Renee Anderson, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1791, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing overtime

• overtime pay
• work overtime

Rhymes for overtime

• aforetime
• allozyme
• anytime
• christmastime
• cybercrime
• dinnertime
• guggenheim
• isozyme
• lysozyme
• maritime
• mesenchyme
• pantomime

Kids Definition

overtime

noun

over·​time ˈō-vər-ˌtīm 

1

: time beyond a set limit

especially : working time beyond a standard day or week

2

: the wage paid for overtime

overtime adverb or adjective