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
1
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."
2
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 notesIn 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
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Word forms
- Plural
- overheats
- Third person singular
- overheats
- Past tense
- overheated
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The laptop started to _____ after hours of gaming.
Etymology
From Middle English overheten, formed from over- + heat; German has the near-identical überhitzen.
Rhymes for overheat
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.
