To save this word, you'll need to log in.
over·strain | \ ˌō-vər-ˈstrān 
\
\overstrained; overstraining
Definition of overstrain
: to strain (someone or something) beyond a maximum tolerable limit
overstrained herself on the treadmill overstrain a muscle overstrained the steel, which developed a crack He said every nerve had been overstrained in some way, and the whole system must sleep torpid a while.— Charlotte Brontë … officials said the aid would be focused only on its banking sector … That would be crucial to avoid overstraining the eurozone's rescue funds …— Luke Baker and Annika Breidthardt She doesn't overstrain the metaphor …— Mark O'Connell
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
More Definitions for overstrain
overstrain
nounover·strain | \ -ˈstrān \
\Medical Definition of overstrain
: excessive mental or physical strain also : a condition resulting from this
Comments on overstrain
What made you want to look up overstrain? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
Name that Food Quiz
- Name these cookies!
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
TAKE THE QUIZ
Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridgedWords at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games
- Name that Food Quiz
Test your knowledge of food and food words.
Take the quiz - Pass the Little Ribbons: A Pasta Word Quiz
Match the pasta with its meaning in Italian.
Take the quiz - Spell It
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
Take the quiz - Bee Cubed
Listen to the words and spell through all three levels.
Play the game
Share overstrain
Time Traveler for overstrain
The first known use of overstrain was in 1578
See more words from the same year