overuse

UK: verb: /ˌəʊvə^rˈjuːz/, noun: /ˌəʊvə^rˈjuːs/

US: (v. ō′vər yo̅o̅z′; n. ō′vər yo̅o̅s′)

Inflections of 'overuse' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

overuses

v 3rd person singular

overusing

v pres p

overused

v past

overused

v past p

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

o•ver•use  (v. ō′vər yo̅o̅z′;n. ō′vər yo̅o̅s′), v., -used, -us•ing, n. 
v.t. 

1. to use too much or too often:
   to overuse an expression.

n. 

2. excessive use:
   to strain one's voice through overuse.

• over- + use 1670–80

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

over-use verb / ˌəʊvəˈjuːz/(transitive)

1. to use excessively

noun / ˌəʊvəˈjuːs/

1. excessive use