work over

verb

worked over; working over; works over
Synonyms of work overnext

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.

Examples of work over in a Sentence

the mob boss's thugs really worked him over
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Choosing habits that feel realistic and sustainable, and returning to them when life gets busy, is what makes these five tips work over the long run. Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 6 Jan. 2026 Does Brayden Point’s spectacular body of work over the past three seasons trump Bedard’s far better 2025-26 campaign? Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2026 The grants will fund development work over the next two years as Maryland tests how the tools could be used alongside existing systems. Center Square, The Washington Examiner, 31 Dec. 2025 This has been used as evidence to suggest the same scribe wrote the entire work over what must have been decades or dedicated work. Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 25 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for work over

Word History

First Known Use

1832, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of work over was in 1832

Cite this Entry

“Work over.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/work%20over. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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