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

When Harry and Meghan began dating, the British tabloids went into overdrive with incessant coverage. — Jennifer Hassan, USA Today, 7 July 2026

Some breathe heavily, notice their heart rate going into overdrive and can even lose consciousness. — Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 2 July 2026

However, the cosmic plot thickens on June 28, when Mars enters the clever and quick-witted sign of Gemini, sending our minds into overdrive. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 21 June 2026

The higher temperatures promote algae growth by allowing their metabolisms to shift into overdrive. — Los Angeles Times, 20 June 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
• khedive
• revive
• survive
• dive

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