overwork

verb

over·​work ˌō-vər-ˈwərk How to pronounce overwork (audio)
overworked; overworking; overworks

transitive verb

1
: to cause to work too hard, too long, or to exhaustion
overworked the horses
2
a
: to work too much on
overwork bread dough
b
: to make excessive use of
overworked tunes

intransitive verb

: to work too much or too long : overdo
overwork noun

Examples of overwork in a Sentence

The whole crew seemed exhausted, probably from overworking. The captain routinely overworked the crew. He overworks the melody in the song. If you overwork the dough, the bread will be tough.
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.
Stressful days, late nights and feeling overworked are direct routes to the job boards, especially if that hard work isn’t recognized (see above). Steve Sonnenberg, Forbes.com, 3 July 2025 During the first few months of its contract, Falck was criticized for not operating enough ambulances and overworking employees. Adam Summers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 July 2025 On top of the possibility of your compressor overworking and breaking down prematurely, dirty coils can also lead to higher temperatures. Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 11 June 2025 The result is overworked and overwhelmed adults, AND underserved students. Michael Maguire, Boston Herald, 27 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for overwork

Word History

First Known Use

1530, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of overwork was in 1530

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Overwork.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overwork. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

overwork

verb
over·​work -ˈwərk How to pronounce overwork (audio)
1
: to work or cause to work too hard or long
overworked the crew
2
: to use too much
overworked phrases
overwork noun

Medical Definition

overwork

transitive verb
over·​work ˌō-vər-ˈwərk How to pronounce overwork (audio)
: to cause to work too hard, too long, or to exhaustion

intransitive verb

: to work too much or too long
overwork noun

More from Merriam-Webster on overwork

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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