What does overwork mean?
Overwork means working more intensely, for longer periods, or in greater volume than is healthy or reasonable. As a verb, it describes a person, animal, machine, or organization being made to perform excessive labor; as a noun, it names that excess. The term commonly carries negative associations with burnout, stress, injury, and declining performance, although it can sometimes be used more neutrally to describe heavy but necessary work. In figurative use, “overworking a relationship” or “overworking an idea” suggests pushing something beyond what it can sustain. Overwork is distinct from merely working hard: it implies that the amount or intensity of work has crossed a reasonable or safe limit. The word is consequently common in discussions of employment, health, education, animal welfare, and productivity.
To work excessively or more than is healthy, necessary, or reasonable.
"The small team was overworking to keep up with demand."
Can be transitive or intransitive, and is often figurative when applied to relationships, ideas, or responsibilities.
Excessive work or the state of being subjected to too much work.
"The symptoms were caused by months of overwork."
Usually uncountable; the plural form overworks is uncommon.
Usually uncountable; the plural is rare and generally used when referring to separate instances or assignments of excessive work.
"The extra overworks were arranged around the deadline."
Overwork is a useful warning label: when work becomes more than people or animals can reasonably sustain, it stops being productive and becomes damaging.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of overwork
Overwork is formed in English by combining the prefix over- with the older word work. The prefix over- has long been used to indicate excess, as in overeat and oversleep. The base word work has Old English origins and developed through Middle English into its modern English form. Words such as workshop, workable, and workman share this ancient occupational and productive root.
Related word forms
How overwork is actually used
Often used with people, animals, machines, and abstract responsibilities. In workplace contexts, it can describe excessive workloads or a demanding working culture. The noun is usually uncountable; the plural is uncommon.