overheat

verb

over·​heat ˌō-vər-ˈhēt 

overheated; overheating; overheats

transitive verb

1

: to heat to excess

2

: to stimulate or agitate unduly

intransitive verb

: to become heated beyond a safe or desirable point

Examples of overheat in a Sentence

I overheated the food in the microwave.

Be careful not to overheat the engine.

Recent Examples on the Web

Turn on air conditioning to keep your home cool, and wear loose-fitting, breathable clothing made of fabrics like cotton to prevent irritation and overheating. —Zia Sherrell, Health, 7 Mar. 2026

It’s made for everything from seaside strolls to city days and won’t leave you overheating. —Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 7 Mar. 2026

The forecast cautioned that the primary national risk has shifted from contraction toward potential overheating as fiscal stimulus, AI investment and improving labor conditions converge. —City News Service, Daily News, 4 Mar. 2026

Students in 16 units in a dormitory building at San Diego State University were displaced Tuesday night after a lithium-ion battery overheated, a San Diego fire official said. —Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for overheat

• bittersweet
• celestite
• incomplete
• indiscreet
• marguerite
• obsolete
• overeat
• parakeet
• stillingfleet
• superheat
• amit
• athlete