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

That said, the limited temperature will keep you from screwing up the nonstick coating by overheating it, so the device is kinda foolproof. —Matthew Korfhage, Wired News, 29 June 2025

The latex and organic cotton contribute to a cooler sleeping surface, which can be beneficial for couples who tend to overheat during the night. —Nora Colomer May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 27 June 2025

Once the timer ends, the device turns off automatically — reducing the risk of overheating. —Ascend Agency, New York Daily News, 27 June 2025

In the past, economists estimated that America’s employers could add no more than 100,000 jobs a month without overheating the economy and igniting inflation. —Paul Wiseman, Chicago Tribune, 19 June 2025

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