overload

1 of 2

verb

over·​load ˌō-vər-ˈlōd How to pronounce overload (audio)
overloaded; overloading; overloads

transitive verb

: to load (something or someone) to excess: such as
a
: to put too large a load on or in (something)
overload a ship
overload a washing machine
Overloading the trailer poses a safety risk.
… a bad winter can so overload roofs with snow that their collapses become endemic.Henry Petroski
b
: to give too much of something to (someone or something) : to supply with an excess of something
overloading students with more information than they can retain
More than ever, the upper middle class is synonymous with the stressed-out class. Their bosses are overloading them with work …Joseph Spiers
… have overloaded the market with too many strange designs and weird color combinations.Mimi Valdés
a movie overloaded with special effects
a court system overloaded with criminal cases
c
: to cause too large a load in (something, such as an electrical circuit)
Too much current traveling through one circuit can cause an overload. The wires inside a wall can get too hot and start a fire. Using a special safety power strip can help prevent overloading a circuit.Science

overload

2 of 2

noun

over·​load ˈō-vər-ˌlōd How to pronounce overload (audio)
plural overloads
: an excessive load or amount of something
an overload of cargo
an overload of details
If your dog is suffering from an overload of stress, he will appear depressed, inactive, sluggish and unresponsive.Daniel Seligman
You fight your superficiality, your shallowness, so as to try to come at people without unreal expectations, without an overload of bias or hope or arrogance …Philip Roth
If you're a regular reader of blogs, … you've probably been frustrated from time to time by information overload: the blogosphere creates way too much material for any human being to comfortably digest.Chris Taylor
Large department stores tend to bring on sensory overload [=overstimulation of the senses]Stephen O'Shea and Joan Harting

Examples of overload in a Sentence

Verb try not to overload your backpack, or you could end up with back problems
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Verb
Due to ongoing layoffs, many companies are overloading and pushing employees to the limit, according to the recent MyPerfectResume's Worker Burnout Report. Bryan Robinson, Forbes, 26 Oct. 2024 The moon squaring off with Saturn can overload you with reflections. USA TODAY, 20 Oct. 2024
Noun
While metadata can be useful, indiscriminate collection can lead to information overload. Mani Padisetti, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024 Experts break down the reasons for the holiday overload and what parents can do about it. Melissa Willets, Parents, 24 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for overload 

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1553, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1645, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of overload was in 1553

Dictionary Entries Near overload

Cite this Entry

“Overload.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overload. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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