overdrive

[ verb oh-ver-drahyv; noun oh-ver-drahyv ]

verb (used with object)

, o·ver·drove, o·ver·driv·en, o·ver·driv·ing.

1. to push or carry to excess; overwork.
2. to drive too hard.

noun

1. Machinery, Automotive. a device containing a gear set at such ratio and arrangement as to provide a drive shaft speed greater than the engine crankshaft speed.
2. Also called hyperdrive. Informal. a state of intense activity or productivity:

   The political campaign has shifted into overdrive.

overdrive

noun

1. a very high gear in a motor vehicle used at high speeds to reduce wear and save fuel
2. in overdrive
   in a state of intense activity
3. into overdrive
   into a state of intense activity

verb

1. tr to drive too hard or too far; overwork or overuse

Word History and Origins

Origin of overdrive¹

First recorded before 950; Middle English overdriven “to cover over, overpower”; Old English oferdrīfan “to drive away, overthrow”; equivalent to over- ( def ) + drive ( def )

Example Sentences

They also didn’t make enough of certain proteins that are vital for attacking viruses and keeping the immune response from dangerously going into overdrive.

From Science News For Students

The pandemic has put America’s shift into virtual community-making into overdrive.

From Washington Post

Without care, they can trigger the immune system to go into overdrive—a dangerous condition that could result in serious problems.

From Singularity Hub 

With Wall back on court, Washington expects what was an already speedy offense to kick into overdrive.

From Washington Post

When it goes into overdrive, the immune system can cause additional damage.

From Science News For Students

When I put their allegations to Epstein, he denied them and went into overdrive.

From The Daily Beast

The Tea Party hate machine has gone into overdrive in South Carolina, so how has Lindsey Graham survived so comfortably?

From The Daily Beast

Newspapers in the U.K. went into overdrive as they speculated about the likelihood of a fresh royal wedding.

From The Daily Beast

The back and forth has sent the gossip blogs into overdrive.

From The Daily Beast

The Palestinian Arab propaganda machine is in overdrive once again.

From The Daily Beast

To overdrive the willingest troops any General ever had under his command is a sin—but we must go on fighting to-morrow!

From Project Gutenberg

There isn't a team in the country gets more grooming than those colts, and not a man has been known to overdrive them.

From Project Gutenberg

The distance was too short for even the briefest of overdrive hops, but it would take time to get there on solar-system drive.

From Project Gutenberg

A ship in overdrive feels exactly as if it were buried deep in the core of a planet.

From Project Gutenberg

A long time later Calhoun heard small sounds which were not normal on a Med Ship in overdrive.

From Project Gutenberg