overwork

UK: /ˌəʊvə^rˈwɜː^rk/

US: /v. ˌoʊvɚˈwɝk, n. ˈoʊvɚˌwɝk/

US: (v. ō′vər wûrk′; n. ō′vər wûrk′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

o•ver•work /v. ˌoʊvɚˈwɜrk, n. ˈoʊvɚˌwɜrk/   v. 

1. to (cause to) work too hard, too much, or too long: [~ + object]
   I think your boss overworks you and the whole staff.
   [no object]
   You look very tired, as if you've been overworking.
2. to use too often or too much:
   [~ + object] You are overworking the phrase "for these reasons'' in your essay; try some different words for variety.

n. [uncountable]
3. a condition of overworking or of having been overworked.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

o•ver•work  (v. ō′vər wûrk′;n. ō′vər wûrk′), v.t. 

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.

v.i. 

5. to work too hard, too much, or too long;
   work to excess:
   You look as though you've been overworking.

n. 

6. work beyond one's strength or capacity.
7. extra or excessive work.

• Old English oferwyrcan. See over-, work bef. 1000

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

overwork verb / ˌəʊvəˈwɜːk/(mainly tr)

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

noun / ˈəʊvəˌwɜːk/

1. excessive or excessively tiring work