overwork

over·work

verb \ˌō-vər-ˈwərk\

Definition of OVERWORK

transitive verb

1

: to cause to work too hard, too long, or to exhaustion <overworked the horses>

2

a : to work too much on <overwork bread dough> b : to make excessive use of <overworked tunes>

intransitive verb

: to work too much or too long : overdo

— overwork noun

Examples of OVERWORK

1. The whole crew seemed exhausted, probably from overworking.
2. The captain routinely overworked the crew.
3. He overworks the melody in the song.
4. If you overwork the dough, the bread will be tough.

First Known Use of OVERWORK

1530

Rhymes with OVERWORK

Atatürk, basketwork, bodywork, busywork, cabinetwork, city clerk, clean-and-jerk, crewelwork, donkeywork, fancywork, handiwork, journeywork, lacquerwork, latticework, leatherwork, masterwork, metalwork, needlework, openwork, out of work, paperwork, plasterwork, shipping clerk, social work, soda jerk, stated clerk, trestlework, wickerwork, wonderwork