overwork

American  

[oh-ver-wurk, oh-ver-wurk] / ˌoʊ vərˈwɜrk, ˈoʊ vərˌwɜrk /

verb (used with object)

1. to cause to work too hard, too much, or too long; weary or exhaust with work (often used reflexively).

   Don't overwork yourself on that new job.

2. to work up, stir up, or excite excessively.

   to overwork a mob to the verge of frenzy.

3. to employ or elaborate to excess.

   an appeal for sympathy that has been overworked by many speakers.

4. to work or decorate all over; decorate the surface of.

   white limestone overworked with inscriptions.

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verb (used without object)

1. to work too hard, too much, or too long; work to excess.

   You look as though you've been overworking.

noun

1. work beyond one's strength or capacity.

2. extra or excessive work.

overwork British  

verb

1. (also intr) to work or cause to work too hard or too long

2. to use too much

   to overwork an excuse

3. to decorate the surface of

4. to work up

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noun

1. excessive or excessively tiring work

Other Word Forms

• overworked
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of overwork

before 1000; Old English oferwyrcan. See over-, work

Explanation

To overwork someone is to force them to work much too hard. Before working hours were regulated in the 1930s, it was more common for bosses to overwork their employees. If your family owns a farm, you may feel that your parents overwork you all summer until you go back to school in the fall — but there are much more serious cases of employers who overwork their laborers in countries where things like work hours and minimum wage aren't mandated by law. You can use overwork as a noun, too, to mean working too hard or too long: "Overwork made her cranky and tired all the time."

Example Sentences

In an economy with limited well-paying jobs, many have rejected societal pressures to overwork or have stopped working completely.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 2026

However, extended periods of overwork had the opposite impact, lowering mental sharpness and making it harder to stay productive.

From Science Daily • Apr. 15, 2026

When leaders insist that AI will double productivity, employees often overwork to fulfill that prophecy.

From Barron's • Dec. 30, 2025

Complaints of chronic employee overwork and understaffing aren’t limited to fulfillment centers, chain coffee shops or fast-food restaurants, but also are pervasive at hospitals, schools and air traffic control facilities.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 3, 2025

"You don't want to overwork yourself, young feller," he said blandly.

From "Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison