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

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

In 1993, the Arnulf Rainer Museum opened in New York, exhibiting over one hundred and fifty of his works over a two-year period. —News Desk, Artforum, 23 Dec. 2025

But flood mitigation work over the years has made a huge impact. —Kenny Choi, CBS News, 20 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

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