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

The dialogue is as vividly overheated as ever, the plot is clearly constructed and surprisingly resolved, and the book is rich in many sharp glimpses of minor characters and scenes. — Literary Hub, 23 July 2026

Transformers overheat, cooling water gets too warm to do its job efficiently and older generating units under continuous strain experience mechanical failure. — Anna Demeo, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026

Keeping coolant levels topped off, checking belts and hoses, and ensuring your engine isn’t overheating all contribute to overall performance, including the air conditioning system. — Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 20 July 2026

Plus, much like Hudson’s, this little number is also off-the-shoulder and has eyelet details that A) look similar to crochet patterns and B) will prevent overheating at the pool, on the patio, and more. — Alyssa Grabinski, PEOPLE, 18 July 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