# overwork

/ˌoʊvɝˈwɝk/ (US) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/overwork
Updated: 2026-10-18

## Definition

too much work, or working too hard, until you feel very tired or ill.

For teachers: excessive work beyond physical or mental limits, causing fatigue and poorer performance.

## Examples

- Overwork makes him tired every evening.
- Her doctor says her headaches come from months of overwork and too little sleep.
- After years of relentless overwork, he finally recognised that constant exhaustion had dulled both his judgement and his enjoyment of the job he once loved.

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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.