SKIP TO CONTENT

overwork

/ˌˈoʊvərˌwərk/

/əʊvəˈwək/

Other forms: overworked; overworking; overworks

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."

Definitions of overwork
  1. verb
    work excessively hard
    synonyms: exploit
    see moresee less
    types:
    overdrive
    drive or work too hard
    type of:
    put to work, work
    cause to work
  2. noun
    the act of working too much or too long
    “he became ill from overwork
    synonyms: overworking
    see moresee less
    type of:
    labor, labour, toil
    productive work (especially physical work done for wages)
  3. verb
    use too much
    “This play has been overworked
    see moresee less
    type of:
    process, work, work on
    shape, form, or improve a material
Cite this entry
Style:
MLA
  • MLA
  • APA
  • Chicago

Copy citation
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘overwork'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
Word Family
EDITOR'S CHOICE

Look up overwork for the last time

Close your vocabulary gaps with personalized learning that focuses on teaching the words you need to know.

VocabTrainer - Vocabulary.com's Vocabulary Trainer