overheat

verb

over·​heat ˌō-vər-ˈhēt How to pronounce overheat (audio)
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Plus, the smooth fabric resists overheating, even on the sunniest days, thanks to the brand’s Cooltect technology. Marie Lodi, Allure, 22 May 2025 But even the boring bank stocks can get overheated at times. Frank Cappelleri, CNBC, 21 May 2025 Suburban sprawl has paved over many flower farms and climate change has overheated remaining land. Jonathan Vigliotti, CBS News, 18 May 2025 Clean out the dust and refresh thermal paste: Older desktops tend to overheat, which can slow things down or cause random shutdowns. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 17 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for overheat

Word History

First Known Use

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of overheat was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Overheat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overheat. Accessed 29 May. 2025.

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