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

US /ˌoʊvərˈloʊd/ UK /ˌəʊvəˈləʊd/

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

US /ˈoʊvərˌloʊd/ UK /ˈəʊvəˌləʊd/

The constant stream of alerts caused information overload.
3

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

US /ˈoʊvərˌloʊd/ UK /ˈəʊvəˌləʊd/

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

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

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

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

iron overload
an excessive accumulation of iron in the body

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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