English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
noun B2 Upper-Intermediate Common

overtime

OH-vuh-tym

Overtime (noun) means Extra time worked beyond someone's normal hours, or the higher pay for that work. Example: “She worked overtime to finish the project before the deadline.”

noun
1
Extra time worked beyond someone's normal hours, or the higher pay for that work.
"She worked overtime to finish the project before the deadline."
"The factory pays time-and-a-half for overtime."
2
An added period of play used to settle a tied game in sport.
"The match went to overtime after both teams finished level."

How to use overtime

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishExtra hours worked past the normal shift, or extra playing time in sport.

Common pairings
work overtime paid overtime go into overtime

Word forms

overtimed past tense, overtimes plural, overtimes singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “overtime” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

She worked _____ to finish the project before the deadline.

Etymology

From over- + time.

extra time extra hours additional hours

Rhymes for overtime

See all rhymes for overtime →

Frequently asked questions

What does “overtime” mean?

The word “overtime” means extra time worked beyond someone's normal hours, or the higher pay for that work. In plain terms, extra hours worked past the normal shift, or extra playing time in sport.

How do you pronounce “overtime”?

“Overtime” is pronounced OH-vuh-tym (/ˈoʊ.vɚˌtaɪm/ in IPA).

How do you use “overtime” in a sentence?

Here is “overtime” used in a sentence: “She worked overtime to finish the project before the deadline.”

What part of speech is “overtime”?

“Overtime” is a noun.

Is “overtime” a common word?

“Overtime” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “overtime” have?

“Overtime” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: extra time worked beyond someone's normal hours, or the higher pay for that work.

What is the difference between 'overtime' and 'extra time'?

In sport, American English uses 'overtime' for the added period that settles a tied game, while British English usually calls it 'extra time', especially in football. In the workplace, 'overtime' refers to hours worked beyond someone's normal schedule.

What is the difference between overtime and time and a half?

Overtime is the extra time worked beyond normal hours, while 'time and a half' describes one common rate of pay for it, meaning 1.5 times the usual hourly wage. Overtime is the hours; time and a half is one way those hours may be paid.

What is the difference between overtime and comp time?

Overtime is usually paid as extra wages for hours worked beyond the normal schedule. Comp time, short for compensatory time, gives paid time off instead of extra pay, though the rules for each vary by employer and jurisdiction.

Is overtime paid at a higher rate?

Overtime often carries a higher rate of pay than regular hours, which is part of what the word can refer to. The exact rate depends on the employer, contract, and local labour laws, so it is not automatically higher everywhere.

Featured in

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial