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overwork definition

over·work (ō′vər wʉrk′, ō′vər wʉrk′)

transitive verb

  1. to work or use to excess to overwork a horse; to overwork an excuse
  2. to decorate the surface of
  3. to make very excited or nervous

intransitive verb

to work too hard or too long

noun

  1. work that is severe or burdensome
  2. work beyond the amount agreed upon; extra work

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

overwork Synonyms

overwork

n.

extra work, overtime, exploitation, overburdening, overloading, exhaustion, going too far, overdoing it; see also abuse 3.


overwork

v.

overdo, exhaust, wear out; see burden, tire 1, 2, weary 1.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

overwork Usage Examples

Object

  • muscle: Over a period of time, months to years, the overworked breathing muscles become tired.

Preposition: at

  • expense: The downside was that this was probably why he was often overworked at the expense of his energy and inroads into his personal time.

Converse of subject

  • cause: The work is sore straining; was laid by for three months short time since with pains in the limbs, caused by overwork.

Adjective modifier

  • constant: That, constant overwork, constant recourse to adrenaline rather than sleep, meant that power was an undiluted additive.

Modifies a noun

  • weakness: Overwork weakness with evidence of muscle damage in a patient with residual paralysis from polio.

Modifying Another Word

  • already: Teachers, in many cases already overworked, are required to learn new skills.
overwork usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

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MLA Style

"overwork." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 3 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/overwork>

APA Style

overwork. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 3rd, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/overwork

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