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 rise of the specifically Christmas but non-religious song took root in the 20th century and went into overdrive beginning in the 1990s with the commercialization of Christmas soundtracks, Sloan said.
—
Elizabeth Weise, The Enquirer, 17 Dec. 2024
Chlöe Bailey and Burna Boy sent the internet into overdrive after cozying up during a second night out in Lagos, Nigeria, on Monday (Dec. 16).
—Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 17 Dec. 2024
But in the meantime, John Idol, Capri’s chief executive officer and chairman, has gone into overdrive and is overseeing changes at Michael Kors personally.
—Evan Clark, WWD, 16 Dec. 2024
This, coupled with subprime lending and speculation buying, sent Arizona's home-building industry into overdrive and spiked home prices in the aughts, Stapp said.
—Jessica Boehm, Axios, 9 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for overdrive 
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Elizabeth Weise, The Enquirer, 17 Dec. 2024
Chlöe Bailey and Burna Boy sent the internet into overdrive after cozying up during a second night out in Lagos, Nigeria, on Monday (Dec. 16).
—Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 17 Dec. 2024
But in the meantime, John Idol, Capri’s chief executive officer and chairman, has gone into overdrive and is overseeing changes at Michael Kors personally.
—Evan Clark, WWD, 16 Dec. 2024
This, coupled with subprime lending and speculation buying, sent Arizona's home-building industry into overdrive and spiked home prices in the aughts, Stapp said.
—Jessica Boehm, Axios, 9 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for overdrive
Dictionary Entries Near overdrive
Cite this Entry
“Overdrive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overdrive. Accessed 6 Jan. 2025.
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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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