noun
overdrive
oh-vuh-DRYV
Overdrive (noun) means a high gear in a vehicle that reduces engine speed at higher road speeds, improving fuel economy. Example: “The car shifted smoothly into overdrive on the highway.”
noun
1
A high gear in a vehicle that reduces engine speed at higher road speeds, improving fuel economy.
"The car shifted smoothly into overdrive on the highway."
2
A state of intense or heightened activity.
"It is true, though it's got nothing to do with me, that the building boom that created the Bombay of my childhood went into overdrive in the years before my birth"
— Salman Rushdie, The ground beneath her feet (2000)
"The campaign has been in overdrive since the recent announcement."
"The kitchen went into overdrive as the dinner rush began."
"So, Mr. Zuckerberg has kicked his company into overdrive with a strong message: It’s time to do more with less."
— Mike Isaac, ‘Operating With Increased Intensity’: Zuckerberg Leads Meta Into Next Phase (2022)
How to use overdrive
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a high gear for efficient driving, or a burst of intense activity ("kick into overdrive").
Common pairings
go into overdrive
kick into overdrive
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Word forms
- Plural
- overdrives
- Third person singular
- overdrives
- Past tense
- overdrove, overdriven
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The car shifted smoothly into _____ on the highway.
Etymology
From Old English oferdrīfan, "to drive over," from over- + drive.
Rhymes for overdrive
See all rhymes for overdrive →Frequently asked questions
What does “overdrive” mean?
The word “overdrive” means a high gear in a vehicle that reduces engine speed at higher road speeds, improving fuel economy. In plain terms, either a high gear for efficient driving, or a burst of intense activity ("kick into overdrive").
How do you pronounce “overdrive”?
“Overdrive” is pronounced oh-vuh-DRYV (/ˌəʊvə(ɹ)ˈdɹaɪv/ in IPA).
How do you use “overdrive” in a sentence?
Here is “overdrive” used in a sentence: “The car shifted smoothly into overdrive on the highway.”
What part of speech is “overdrive”?
“Overdrive” is a noun.
Where does the word “overdrive” come from?
The word “overdrive” comes from Old English. From Old English oferdrīfan, "to drive over," from over- + drive.
How many meanings does “overdrive” have?
“Overdrive” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a high gear in a vehicle that reduces engine speed at higher road speeds, improving fuel economy.
