work over
verb
worked over; working over; works over
1
: to subject to thorough examination, study, or treatment
shelf stock worked over by shoppers
2
: to do over : rework
saved the play by working the first act over
3
: to beat up or manhandle with thoroughness
My boxing opponent worked me over in the ring.
Examples of work over in a Sentence
the mob boss's thugs really worked him over
Recent Examples on the Web
The annual meeting is an opportunity to celebrate the league's work over the past year, hear from a powerful advocate for Arkansas families and help shape the organization's direction for the future.
—
Deb Harvell, Arkansas Online, 11 May 2025
Union representatives have been raising the idea of a federal tax break to further incentivize domestic production for some time, as production crews have seen the loss of work over many years.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 4 May 2025
The key to getting the most out of strength training is stacking up hard work over time, Mr. Frost said.
—Alyssa Ages, New York Times, 3 May 2025
Perez worked over Ripley’s leg, and was able to chop down the big tree despite giving away a lot of size in the match.
—Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for work over
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.
Deb Harvell, Arkansas Online, 11 May 2025
Union representatives have been raising the idea of a federal tax break to further incentivize domestic production for some time, as production crews have seen the loss of work over many years.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 4 May 2025
The key to getting the most out of strength training is stacking up hard work over time, Mr. Frost said.
—Alyssa Ages, New York Times, 3 May 2025
Perez worked over Ripley’s leg, and was able to chop down the big tree despite giving away a lot of size in the match.
—Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for work over
Cite this Entry
“Work over.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/work%20over. Accessed 24 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share