work over

verb

worked over; working over; works over

transitive verb

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.

Synonyms of work over

• lick
• hide
• pound
• lash
• do
• hit
• punch out
• beat
• whip
• attack
• knock
• assault
• pelt
• batter
• slap
• punch
• thump
• bat
• beat up on

Examples of work over in a Sentence

the mob boss's thugs really worked him over

Recent Examples on the Web

Where Hsu’s early work was filled with the people in his life, his work over the past decade is marked by a kind of solitude. — Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2026

Sevier set up the page as Abbott will be unable to work over the coming months, with his wife Becky taking time off from her job to support him. — Gina Kalsi, PEOPLE, 2 Sep. 2026

Franklin received a lot of work over the past week, because Miami has injury issues in its tight end room. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 30 Aug. 2026

By the time the series concluded in 2021, Kusama had produced roughly 900 works over 12 years. — Tessa Solomon For Artnews, Robb Report, 28 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1832, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for work over

• carryover
• changeover
• crossover
• cutover
• flashover
• hangover
• holdover
• layover
• leftover
• makeover
• moreover
• passover