overwork

B1 Topic:Actions & Processes

Also spelled over-work

US /ˌoʊvɚˈwɝk/ UK /ˌəʊvəˈwɜːk/ See IPA manual

Freq #36205

Meanings

1

verb
To make someone or something work too hard.

The manager was criticized for overworking his staff during the busy season.
2

verb
To work too hard or for too long.

He overworked for years and eventually became seriously ill.
3

noun
The act of working too much or for too long.

They became ill from overwork and stress.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to make someone or... exploit

3 noun · the act of working too much... overworking

Word family

Forms overworkedoverworkingoverworks

Related forms overtime

Etymology

From Middle English overwerken, possibly from Old English oferwyrċan (“to overwork, overlay”), equivalent to over- + work. Cognate with Dutch overwerken (“to overwork”).

overwerken Middle English oferwyrċan Old English

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# overwork

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** verb, noun
**IPA (US):** /ˌoʊvɚˈwɝk/
**IPA (UK):** /ˌəʊvəˈwɜːk/
**Frequency rank:** 36205

## Meanings
1. To make someone or something work too hard.
2. To work too hard or for too long.
3. The act of working too much or for too long.

## Examples
- The manager was criticized for overworking his staff during the busy season.
- He overworked for years and eventually became seriously ill.
- They became ill from overwork and stress.

## Related Forms
- overtime

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: overwerken
- Root: oferwyrċan

## Etymology
From Middle English overwerken, possibly from Old English oferwyrċan (“to overwork, overlay”), equivalent to over- + work. Cognate with Dutch overwerken (“to overwork”).

## AI Etymology
Overwork comes from Middle English overwerken, possibly from Old English oferwyrċan (“to overwork, overlay”), equivalent to over- + work. Cognate with Dutch overwerken (“to overwork”). The historical chain includes Middle English overwerken and Old English oferwyrċan. Modern senses include to make someone or something work too hard and to work too hard or for too long. The wider word family includes related forms such as overtime.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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