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

Check between presses to avoid overheating or scorching the fabric. — Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 26 Sep. 2026

As crews successfully stabilized the initial container, an adjacent 250-kilowatt container then started to overheat. — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026

However, to overheat even a basic counter takes running it for at least an hour or two without stopping while the very best find ways to mitigate heat generation entirely. — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 24 Sep. 2026

Southeast Asia's wet season generally runs from June to October, when rains usually replenish reservoirs, cool overheated cities and supply water for irrigation ahead of the next planting season. — Edna Tarigan, Arkansas Online, 23 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

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

Rhymes for overheat

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