overdrive
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.”
How to use overdrive
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a high gear for efficient driving, or a burst of intense activity ("kick into overdrive").
Word forms
overdrove past tense, overdriven past tense, overdrives plural, overdrives singular
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.