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

Even workers who are still employed face double economic pressure as basic wages increasingly fail to meet rising living costs and reduced overtime, driven by falling orders, has hampered their ability to supplement income. — Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 17 July 2026

Fewer shifts, less overtime, a paycheck that thins while your job title stays the same. — Jason Snyder, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026

Smoke causes inflammation by triggering the body’s immune system to go into overtime to fight the irritant. — Seth Borenstein, Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2026

Duke then justified its presence in the ACC championship by beating Virginia 27-20 in overtime. — Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 15 July 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