overdrive
noun
over·drive
ˈō-vər-ˌdrīv 
1
: an automotive transmission gear that transmits to the drive shaft a speed greater than engine speed
2
: a state of heightened activity
going into rhetorical overdrive
Examples of overdrive in a Sentence
He put the car into overdrive.
His acting career is in overdrive.
The reporters went into overdrive to finish their stories on time.
Recent Examples on the Web
The court will have to extend its term into July if any opinions are outstanding by the end of the month, putting justices into overdrive to catch up on their caseload.
—
Kyler Alvord, Peoplemag, 21 June 2024
Next week, the global soccer schedule goes into overdrive with the kickoff of Copa America 2024, the quadrennial South American championship, which this year is being held in the United States and includes six teams from North and Central America and the Caribbean.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 12 June 2024
June 16 is the big date, with the war between Team Black and Team Green finally kicking into overdrive, and plenty of those ferocious winged beasts fueling the fight along.
—Josh Wigler, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 June 2024
At the next, in front of the Adda and Paul Safran Senior Housing in Venice, the dance party kicks into overdrive.
—Stephen Krcmar, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for overdrive 
Kyler Alvord, Peoplemag, 21 June 2024
Next week, the global soccer schedule goes into overdrive with the kickoff of Copa America 2024, the quadrennial South American championship, which this year is being held in the United States and includes six teams from North and Central America and the Caribbean.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 12 June 2024
June 16 is the big date, with the war between Team Black and Team Green finally kicking into overdrive, and plenty of those ferocious winged beasts fueling the fight along.
—Josh Wigler, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 June 2024
At the next, in front of the Adda and Paul Safran Senior Housing in Venice, the dance party kicks into overdrive.
—Stephen Krcmar, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for overdrive
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'overdrive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near overdrive
Cite this Entry
“Overdrive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overdrive. Accessed 4 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
overdrive
noun
over·drive
ˈō-vər-ˌdrīv
: a transmission gear in an automobile that allows the drive shaft to operate at a speed greater than that of the engine crankshaft
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