overtime

American  

[oh-ver-tahym, oh-ver-tahym] / ˈoʊ vərˌtaɪm, ˌoʊ vərˈtaɪm /

noun

1. working time before or after one's regularly scheduled working hours; extra working time.

2. pay for such time (distinguished from straight time).

3. time in excess of a prescribed period.

4. Sports. an additional period of play for deciding the winner of a game in which the contestants are tied at the end of the regular playing period.

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adverb

1. during overtime.

   to work overtime.

adjective

1. of or for overtime.

   overtime pay.

verb (used with object)

overtimed, overtiming

1. to give too much time to (a photographic exposure).

overtime British  

noun

1. 1. work at a regular job done in addition to regular working hours

   2. ( as modifier )

      overtime pay

2. the rate of pay established for such work

3. time in excess of a set period

4. sport extra time

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adverb

1. beyond the regular or stipulated time

verb

1. (tr) to exceed the required time for (a photographic exposure)

Etymology

Origin of overtime

First recorded in 1530–40; over- + time

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Explanation

Overtime is the amount of time you work beyond your regular hours. If your boss asks you to work over 40 hours one week, that's overtime and you should demand extra pay. You can use this word as a noun or an adjective, as in overtime pay or overtime hours. At some workplaces, working overtime earns you more than the normal hourly salary. In other cases, full time employees are expected to work overtime without any extra pay. In sports, overtime is when play goes longer than the usual time — more than nine innings in a baseball game, or more than a twenty-minute half in basketball, for example.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

overtime overtimed

Baltimore and the Pittsburgh Steelers are also 4-2, with the Steelers having come back from 16-3 down in the fourth quarter to win 26-19 in overtime at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

From BBC ● Oct. 19, 2026

The 2-3 Rams, who opened the season as Super Bowl favorites, released kicker Harrison Mevis after last Monday’s overtime loss to the Buffalo Bills and signed Grupe from the New York Jets practice squad.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 17, 2026

Earlier this season, the Detroit Lions began overtime with a touchdown before the New Orleans Saints matched them.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026

The NFL changed its overtime rules last year so that a touchdown on the opening drive would no longer end the game.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026

Part of my left lobe has been turned off, and now my right lobe works overtime.

From "The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl" by Stacy McAnulty

The action raced like an overtimed kinetoscopic film.

From A Man to His Mate by Stockton Mulford

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