overwork

[ verb oh-ver-wurk; noun 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

Derived Forms

• ˌoverˈworked, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of overwork¹

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

Example Sentences

In addition to investment, the NHS also needs enough staff to take on extra shifts, which is a challenge when vacancies are high and staff are feeling overworked and under pressure.

From BBC

He added that there were "practical issues" as sanctions required "a lot of work" and that the Foreign Office's sanctions director was already "heavily overworked" due to issues related to Russia.

From BBC

More than anything, the Dodgers need length from their frontline pairing, so as not to further tax an already overworked bullpen.

From Los Angeles Times

India is known to have one of the most overworked workforces globally.

From BBC

She mentions the Japanese word karoshi, a term that means death from overwork.

From Los Angeles Times