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 exhibition also presents 75 works from from the artist’s personal collection, including everything from tools to books and photographs that have inspired her work over the years.
—
Christian Allaire, Vogue, 2 Oct. 2025
What’s crept into DiCaprio’s work over the past decade-plus is a healthy sense of irony.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2025
Graves said the police department worked over the summer, reprogramming the light bars to show a steady blue light.
—Dominick Williams, Kansas City Star, 23 Sep. 2025
John Cooper described how much Redford enjoyed working over ideas with young filmmakers at the Sundance Institute each summer.
—Scott Simon, NPR, 20 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for work over
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Christian Allaire, Vogue, 2 Oct. 2025
What’s crept into DiCaprio’s work over the past decade-plus is a healthy sense of irony.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2025
Graves said the police department worked over the summer, reprogramming the light bars to show a steady blue light.
—Dominick Williams, Kansas City Star, 23 Sep. 2025
John Cooper described how much Redford enjoyed working over ideas with young filmmakers at the Sundance Institute each summer.
—Scott Simon, NPR, 20 Sep. 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 13 Oct. 2025.
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