overwork

American  

[oh-ver-wurk, oh-ver-wurk] / ˌoʊ vərˈwɜrk, ˈoʊ vərˌwɜrk /

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.

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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 British  

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

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noun

1. excessive or excessively tiring work

Other Word Forms

• overworked adjective

Etymology

Origin of overwork

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

Explanation

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."

Example Sentences

UFO contends that there has not been enough progress made on issues such as "avoiding overwork" and lengthening redundancy notice periods.

From Barron's • Apr. 13, 2026

Without knowing their opponent, the Hoosiers didn’t want to overwork older players.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 27, 2025

She says she threw out her back and realized her overwork created physical strain.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 2, 2025

Being tired is linked to something deeper than just overwork or a sign of the times.

From Salon • Jan. 16, 2025

Many years of overwork and interrupted sleep had made him a little vague and preoccupied.

From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck