overload

American  

[oh-ver-lohd, oh-ver-lohd] / ˌoʊ vərˈloʊd, ˈoʊ vərˌloʊd /

verb (used with object)

1. to load to excess; overburden.

   Don't overload the raft or it will sink.

---

noun

1. an excessive load.

overload British  

verb

1. (tr) to put too large a load on or in

---

noun

1. an excessive load

Etymology

Origin of overload

First recorded in 1545–55; over- + load

Explanation

To overload is to load an excessive amount in or on something, such as an overload of electricity which shorts out the circuits. Overloading causes a "Too much!" situation. To overload is to push something or someone too far. A supervisor can overload an employee by assigning too much work. People can overload a bus if there are too many of them. A fuse will blow if too many appliances overload the circuits; this is called an overload (the noun form). When something gets overloaded, it usually stops working. Hair can overload or clog a sink, which will stop draining water. When something gets overloaded, there's more of something than it can handle.

Example Sentences

Daniel says the lyrics address the difficulties of making decisions in an era of information overload – which explains his inability to pick an analogy and stick to it.

From BBC • May 8, 2026

Somewhere along the way, we stopped asking whether the system was working and started asking how much we could overload it.

From Slate • May 3, 2026

The result is a raucous, interactive, sensory overload.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

Not wanting to overload Soriano, the Angels had him focus on his sinker and curveball, his two best pitches.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 25, 2026

But as I lay there, the same overload would start happening in my head.

From "In the Time of the Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez

Related Words

• overburden
• overwhelm