verb

overheat

oh-vuh-HEET

Overheat (verb) means to heat something, or for something, well past a safe or normal level. Example: “The laptop started to overheat after hours of gaming.”

verb

To heat something, or for something, well past a safe or normal level.

"The laptop started to overheat after hours of gaming."

"Don't overheat the oil or it will start to smoke."

Of an economy, to expand faster than it can sustainably handle.

"Economists warned the housing market was starting to overheat."

How to use overheat

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo get, or make, too hot — literally (engines, rooms) or figuratively (an economy growing too fast).

Common pairings

the engine overheated an overheating economy

Word forms

overheated past tense, overheats plural, overheats singular

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The laptop started to _____ after hours of gaming.

Etymology

From Middle English overheten, formed from over- + heat; German has the near-identical überhitzen.

Origin: Middle English

Rhymes for overheat

eat meat feat beat peat heat seat teat neat pleat sweat wheat

See all rhymes for overheat →

Frequently asked questions

What does “overheat” mean?

The word “overheat” means to heat something, or for something, well past a safe or normal level. In plain terms, to get, or make, too hot — literally (engines, rooms) or figuratively (an economy growing too fast).

How do you pronounce “overheat”?

“Overheat” is pronounced oh-vuh-HEET (/ˌoʊvɚˈhit/ in IPA).

How do you use “overheat” in a sentence?

Here is “overheat” used in a sentence: “The laptop started to overheat after hours of gaming.”

What part of speech is “overheat”?

“Overheat” is a verb.

Where does the word “overheat” come from?

The word “overheat” comes from Middle English. From Middle English overheten, formed from over- + heat; German has the near-identical überhitzen.

How many meanings does “overheat” have?

“Overheat” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to heat something, or for something, well past a safe or normal level.