overwork

[oh-ver-wurk, oh-ver-wurk]

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.

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

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

noun

1. excessive or excessively tiring work

Other Word Forms

• overworked adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of overwork¹

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

Example Sentences

This developing plot line, however, stays in the background as customers turn up demanding to look like Beyoncé or requesting micro braids, a labor-intensive torture for overworked hands.

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A delicate balancing act of romance, comedy and whimsy, the film now actually feels a little overworked, as if Anderson was wrestling certain internal impulses in trying to purposefully make something light.

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"I sympathise that sometimes there are staff who are overworked or units that are understaffed," he said.

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This bullpen has been overworked and outmatched and simply outplayed all season, and when the Dodger front office had a chance to fix it at the trade deadline, they did virtually nothing.

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Many escapees said they had witnessed prisoners die from ill treatment, overwork and malnutrition, though the UN did hear of "some limited improvements" at the facilities, including "a slight decrease in violence by guards".

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