# overloading

/ˈoʊvɝˌɫoʊdɪŋ/ (US) · /ˌəʊvəlˈəʊdɪŋ/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/overloading
Updated: 2026-05-28

## Definition

to put too much weight or work on something, making it break or fail. You use this when a machine, a person, or a system has more than it can handle.

For teachers: to subject a system, person, or machine to a workload or weight that exceeds its capacity. Often results in failure, breakdown, or a loss of efficiency.

## Examples

- The truck is overloading the bridge with its heavy cargo.
- The server crashed because the sudden surge in traffic was overloading the available bandwidth.
- Engineers must calculate the maximum stress a bridge can withstand to prevent the structural overloading that could lead to a catastrophic collapse during peak usage hours.

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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.