overwork

verb

over·​work ˌō-vər-ˈwərk 

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

Instead of feeling generous, the space feels tight and overworked, with chairs competing for attention and elbow room. —Angelika Pokovba, Martha Stewart, 3 Mar. 2026

Her shade was never brassy or overworked but creamy, diffused, and quietly luminous, complementing rather than competing with her polished aesthetic. —Calin Van Paris, InStyle, 3 Mar. 2026

Our teams are understaffed and overworked, asked to do more with less because the budget demands it. —Camryn Dadey, Sacbee.com, 3 Mar. 2026

Collagen and ceramides, staples in Korean skin care, show up here to support hair that’s feeling weak, dry, or overworked. —Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 26 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1530, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for overwork

• bodywork
• handiwork
• ironwork
• latticework
• masterwork
• metalwork
• needlework
• openwork
• paperwork
• subnetwork
• artwork
• beadwork

Kids Definition

overwork

verb

over·​work -ˈwərk 

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 

: to cause to work too hard, too long, or to exhaustion

intransitive verb

: to work too much or too long

overwork noun