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

Overtime rules in Michigan remain the same, requiring that employers pay nonexempt employees 1 ½ times their regular rate of pay for hours worked over 40 in a seven-day work week. —Paula Wethington, CBS News, 16 Dec. 2025

These first two episodes only skirt the edges of getting into the regimen that went into making those marathons work over a period of close to two years. —Chris Willman, Variety, 12 Dec. 2025

For fans and players alike, this win validates all the hard work over the season and sets up the program as a serious national contender going forward. —Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2025

How’s that worked over the last decade? —Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 4 Dec. 2025

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