# overheat

/ˈoʊvɝˌhit/ (US) · /ˌəʊvəhˈiːt/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/overheat
Updated: 2026-05-31

## Definition

to become too hot, especially for a machine or a person. It can also describe an economy that grows too fast and becomes unstable.

For teachers: to become excessively hot, typically leading to a malfunction or health risk. In an economic context, it refers to a period of rapid growth that eventually leads to a correction or crash.

## Examples

- The computer will overheat if you leave it in the sun.
- Economists warned that the housing market was beginning to overheat as prices rose faster than wages.
- While the initial surge in consumer spending was welcomed, the central bank feared the economy was overheating, leading to a rapid increase in inflation that would require an emergency interest rate hike.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.