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

Otherwise, its generous fit is just oversized enough to work over fall layers. — Irene Richardson, InStyle, 24 Sep. 2026

Four holdout states -- Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut and Minnesota -- worked over the weekend to reach the settlement, which was initially outlined with California, Bloomberg said. — Sean Conlon,justina Lee,sarah Min, CNBC, 20 Sep. 2026

Plainly, this router works over time to support your connection. — Kelsey Fogarty, PC Magazine, 8 Sep. 2026

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

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