overdrive

noun

over·​drive ˈō-vər-ˌdrīv 

1

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

2

: 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

Interestingly, the exhibit was already in the works before Kansas City was announced as a World Cup host city; the appointment just made the museum kick the idea into overdrive. —Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 1 Apr. 2026

When your body heats up, your sweat glands kick into overdrive everywhere—feet included. —Christa Sgobba, Glamour, 31 Mar. 2026

West Virginia trailed 14-11 late in the first quarter when its pressure defense went into overdrive. —ABC News, 21 Mar. 2026

Rumors of a budding romance between Kardashian and the F1 star got kicked into overdrive in February when the pair were spotted at the Super Bowl in February. —Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 17 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1926, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for overdrive

• alive
• archive
• arrive
• beehive
• connive
• contrive
• deprive
• derive
• revive
• survive
• dive
• drive

Kids Definition

overdrive

noun

over·​drive ˈō-vər-ˌdrīv 

: a transmission gear in an automobile that allows the drive shaft to operate at a speed greater than that of the engine crankshaft