# overdrive

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˌəʊvə(ɹ)ˈdɹaɪv/ · frequency rank #23,053

## Definitions
1. To drive too hard, or far, or beyond strength.

## Etymology
From Middle English overdriven, from Old English oferdrīfan, equivalent to over- + drive. Cognate with Saterland Frisian uurdrieuwe (“to overdo, overstate”), Dutch overdrijven (“to exaggerate”), German Low German overdrieven, överdrieven (“to overdo, exaggerate”), German übertreiben (“to overdo, exaggerate”), Norwegian overdrive (“to exaggerate”).

## Easily confused with
- **override** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/overdrive-vs-override)

## Common misspellings (13)
`oevrdrive`, `ovedrrive`, `overddrive`, `overdirve`, `overdriev`, `overdrivve`, `overdrrive`, `overdrvie`, `overrdive`, `overrdrive`, `ovredrive`, `ovverdrive`, `voerdrive`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/overdrive