Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense overworks, present participle overworking, past tense, past participle overworked
verb
If you overwork or if someone overworks you, you work too hard, and are likely to become very tired or ill.
He's overworking and has got a lot on his mind. [VERB]
He overworks and underpays the poor clerk whom he employs. [VERB noun]
Overwork is also a noun.
He died of a heart attack brought on by overwork.
overworkedadjective
...an overworked doctor.
Synonyms: exhausted, stressed (out), fatigued, overloaded More Synonyms of overwork
More Synonyms of overwork
overwork in British English
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
4.
to work up
noun (ˈəʊvəˌwɜːk)
5.
excessive or excessively tiring work
Derived forms
overworked (ˌoverˈworked)
adjective
overwork in American English
(ˌoʊvərˈwɜrk; ˈoʊvərˌwɜrk)
verb transitive
1.
to work or use to excess
to overwork a horse; to overwork an excuse
2.
to decorate the surface of
3.
to make very excited or nervous
verb intransitive
4.
to work too hard or too long
noun
5.
work that is severe or burdensome
6.
work beyond the amount agreed upon; extra work
Examples of 'overwork' in a sentence
overwork
Staff are overworked and patients are at risk.
The Sun (2017)
We will not accept the removal of safeguards protecting patients from overworked doctors.
The Sun (2015)
Do not overwork the dough to ensure that the scones turn out light.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
He said overworked doctors will no longer test for the virus.
The Sun (2009)
Be careful not to overwork your dough.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The staff are overworked and underpaid.
The Sun (2014)
It leads to stress and overwork.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
For many years GPs considered themselves overworked and underpaid compared with hospital doctors.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
It was hard to tell if the staff were overworked or just didn't care.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Is he depressed, overworked or stressed about money?
The Sun (2012)
Don't overwork the dough and the scones will be fluffy and light.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
In particular, it worries that fatigue may affect overworked staff.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Equally, there is a lot of research to show that stress and overwork reduces life expectancy.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
But with overloaded schedules and overworked staffs, pastors resist placing yet another program onto their workloads.
Christianity Today (2000)
I have made up excuses like overwork but they are wearing thin.
The Sun (2012)
She was overworked and stressed.
The Sun (2015)
Remember - while her body grows larger, her overworked heart stays the same size.
The Sun (2013)
One becomes wary of these names, for some history is overworked like dough, and in the process we disregard just how sensationally awful these characters really were.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Quotations
overwork: a dangerous disorder affecting high public functionaries who want to go fishingAmbrose BierceThe Devil's Dictionary
In other languages
overwork
British English: overwork VERB
If you overwork or if someone overworks you, you work too hard, and are likely to become very tired or ill.
He's overworking and has got a lot on his mind.
American English: overwork
Brazilian Portuguese: sobrecarregar de trabalho
Chinese: 工作过度
European Spanish: trabajar demasiado
French: se surmener
German: sich überarbeiten
Italian: lavorare troppo
Japanese: こき使う/働きすぎる
Korean: 과로하다
European Portuguese: sobrecarregar de trabalho
Latin American Spanish: trabajar demasiado
Chinese translation of 'overwork'
overwork
(əuvəˈwəːk)
n(u)
过(過)分劳(勞)累 (guòfèn láoleì)
vt
[person]使工作过(過)度 (shǐ gōngzuò guòdù)
vi
工作过(過)度 (gōngzuò guòdù)
1 (verb)
Definition
to work too hard or too long
You've been overworking – you need a holiday.
Synonyms
wear yourself out
burn the midnight oil
burn the candle at both ends
bite off more than you can chew
strain yourself
overstrain yourself
work your fingers to the bone
overtire yourself
drive yourself too far
overburden yourself
overload yourself
overtax yourself
practise presenteeism
2 (verb)
They overwork their staff.
Synonyms
exploit
exhaust
The effort of speaking had exhausted him.
fatigue
It fatigues me to list them all.
weary
The work wearied him to the point of exhaustion.
oppress
wear out
prostrate
patients who have been prostrated by fatigue
overtax
drive into the ground
be a slave-driver or hard taskmaster to
Quotation
overwork: a dangerous disorder affecting high public functionaries who want to go fishing [Ambrose Bierce – The Devil's Dictionary]