# overwork

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˌəʊvəˈwɜːk/ · frequency rank #46,098

## Definitions
1. To make (someone or something) work too hard.
2. To work too hard.
3. To fill too full of work; to crowd with labour.
4. To decorate all over.

## Etymology
From Middle English overwerken, possibly from Old English oferwyrċan (“to overwork, overlay”), equivalent to over- + work. Cognate with Dutch overwerken (“to overwork”).

## Easily confused with
- **overworked** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/overwork-vs-overworked)
- **overlook** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/overlook-vs-overwork)
- **overlord** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/overlord-vs-overwork)
- **overtook** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/overtook-vs-overwork)

## Common misspellings (12)
`oevrwork`, `overowrk`, `overrwork`, `overwokr`, `overworkk`, `overworrk`, `overwrok`, `overwwork`, `ovewrork`, `ovrework`, `ovverwork`, `voerwork`

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