overdrive Meaning & Definition
What Does Overdrive Mean?
Overdrive is a verb that means To drive too hard, or far, or beyond strength. As a noun, it means A gear, on an automobile, higher than the traditional top gear, mainly to allow better fuel economy at highway speeds. In the 21st century, such gears are no longer viewed as "extra" and thus rarely called by this name. As a noun, it means A gear, on an automobile, higher than the normal top gear.
Quick Facts About Overdrive
| Part of speech | verb, noun |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˌəʊvə(ɹ)ˈdɹaɪv/ |
| Synonyms | overuse, O. D. and O.D. |
| Plural | overdrives |
| Verb forms | overdrives, overdriving, overdrove, overdriven |
Overdrive Definition (Verb)
- To drive too hard, or far, or beyond strength.
Overdrive as a Noun
- A gear, on an automobile, higher than the traditional top gear, mainly to allow better fuel economy at highway speeds. In the 21st century, such gears are no longer viewed as "extra" and thus rarely called by this name.
In the 1970s, many transmission designs were revised to add an overdrive gear.
- A state of heightened activity.
overdrive pacing
- Freewheeling (driving a vehicle with the transmission in neutral) on downhill stretches to achieve higher fuel economy and/or speed than otherwise. In colloquial registers, ethnically bigoted variants have been common, such as Jewish overdrive (alluding to the stereotype of miserly Jews) or Mexican overdrive or Polish overdrive (alluding to stereotypes of foolishness and poverty).
Of course overdrive is forbidden for dump trucks in the quarry because it is unsafe, but unscrupulous workers were found to be using it because of a perverse incentive involving tonnage piece rates.
- A gear ratio higher than 1:1: one in which a single revolution of the driving element corresponds to more than one revolution of the driven element.
Noun
- A gear, on an automobile, higher than the normal top gear.
Synonyms of Overdrive
Overdrive synonyms and antonyms →Overdrive in a Sentence
In the 1970s, many transmission designs were revised to add an overdrive gear.
overdrive pacing
The campaign has been in overdrive since the recent announcement.
Of course overdrive is forbidden for dump trucks in the quarry because it is unsafe, but unscrupulous workers were found to be using it because of a perverse incentive involving tonnage piece rates.
Word Forms & Grammar
overdrive (third-person singular simple present overdrives, present participle overdriving, simple past overdrove, past participle overdriven)
overdrive (countable and uncountable, plural overdrives)
Words That Rhyme With Overdrive
Origin of Overdrive
Origin 1: From Middle English overdriven, from Old English oferdrīfan, equivalent to over- + drive. Cognate with Saterland Frisian uurdrieuwe (“to overdo, overstate”), Dutch overdrijven (“to exaggerate”), German Low German overdrieven, överdrieven (“to overdo, exaggerate”), German übertreiben (“to overdo, exaggerate”), Norwegian overdrive (“to exaggerate”).
Origin 2: From over- + drive, originally referring to gear ratios over 1:1.
Frequently Asked Questions About Overdrive
Is overdrive a verb or a noun?
Overdrive is mainly used as a verb, but it can also be used as a noun.
What is another word for overdrive?
Close synonyms of overdrive are overuse, O. D. and O.D.. See the full list of overdrive synonyms and antonyms.
What is the plural of overdrive?
The plural of overdrive is overdrives.
What is the past tense of overdrive?
The past tense of overdrive is overdrove and the past participle is overdriven. The present participle is overdriving.
More About Overdrive On Meaning Stash
More Words Starting With “Over”
- over
- over-
- over-age
- over-fond
- over-the-counter
- over-the-top
- over-the-transom
- over-values
- overabundance
- overabundances