overload

B1 Topic:Actions & Processes

US verb /ˌoʊvərˈloʊd/ noun /ˈoʊvərˌloʊd/ UK verb /ˌəʊvəˈləʊd/ noun /ˈəʊvəˌləʊd/ See IPA manual

Freq #14289

Meanings

1

verb
to put too much weight, work, information, or demand on someone or something

Do not overload the circuit by connecting too many appliances.
2

noun
an excessive amount or burden that exceeds a person or system's capacity

The constant stream of alerts caused information overload.
3

noun
an electrical demand greater than a circuit or device can safely carry

The breaker shut off the supply when it detected an overload.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to put too much weight,... overburden overwhelm surcharge

2 noun · an excessive amount or... excess overburden surfeit

3 noun · an electrical demand... overcurrentexcess load

Opposites

unload relieve lighten

Word family

Forms overloadedoverloading

Derived forms overloadedoverloadingoverloadable

Related forms load capacity overwork

Common collocations

iron overload Noun + noun

Etymology

Formed from over- ('excessively') + load. The noun and verb first referred to excessive physical weight and later extended to electrical, mental, and organizational capacity.

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# overload

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** verb, noun
**IPA (US):** /ˌoʊvərˈloʊd/
**IPA (UK):** /ˌəʊvəˈləʊd/
**Frequency rank:** 14289

## Meanings
1. to put too much weight, work, information, or demand on someone or something
2. an excessive amount or burden that exceeds a person or system's capacity
3. an electrical demand greater than a circuit or device can safely carry

## Examples
- Do not overload the circuit by connecting too many appliances.
- The constant stream of alerts caused information overload.
- The breaker shut off the supply when it detected an overload.

## Synonyms
- overburden
- overwhelm
- surcharge
- excess

## Antonyms
- unload
- relieve
- lighten

## Derived Forms
- overloaded
- overloading
- overloadable

## Related Forms
- load
- capacity
- overwork

## Roots and Affixes
- Affix: over- - too much

## Etymology
Formed from over- ('excessively') + load. The noun and verb first referred to excessive physical weight and later extended to electrical, mental, and organizational capacity.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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