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
Brooks has won three Academy Awards and 21 Emmys for his work over the years.
—
Michael Schneider, Variety, 1 Apr. 2026
The crew members will also rearrange parts of the capsule's interior to give themselves more room to live and work over the next 10 days.
—Charlie Gile, NBC news, 1 Apr. 2026
That’s the way these things work over a nine-year period of time.
—Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
The team announced that Al Horford will also be re-evaluated next week and has begun light on-court work over the past few days.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for work over
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Michael Schneider, Variety, 1 Apr. 2026
The crew members will also rearrange parts of the capsule's interior to give themselves more room to live and work over the next 10 days.
—Charlie Gile, NBC news, 1 Apr. 2026
That’s the way these things work over a nine-year period of time.
—Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
The team announced that Al Horford will also be re-evaluated next week and has begun light on-court work over the past few days.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2026
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 2 Apr. 2026.
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