overdrive

noun

over·drive ˈō-vər-ˌdrīv

: an automotive transmission gear that transmits to the drive shaft a speed greater than engine speed

: a state of heightened activity

going into rhetorical overdrive

Examples of overdrive in a Sentence

He put the car into overdrive. His acting career is in overdrive. The reporters went into overdrive to finish their stories on time.

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

This morning’s must read Los Angeles has reached peak bumper sticker, going beyond ‘Coexist’ and into overdrive. —

Hunter Clauss, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2025 Naturally, the unexpected sighting sent the internet into overdrive. —

Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 17 Feb. 2025 The rumor mill had been going into overdrive for months with speculation on who would play the books’ most iconic characters. —

Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 12 Feb. 2025 Photograph: Getty Images Southern California’s long overdue rainy season is about to go into overdrive. —

Eric Holthaus, WIRED, 12 Feb. 2025 See all Example Sentences for overdrive