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

The policy gears of the nation’s capital are about to shift into overdrive to move legislation intended to lower taxes, increase spending for Trump administration priorities like border security, reduce entitlement spending, and extending the U.S. debt limit. —Doug Criscitello, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025

And while this is a truly year-round process, it’s really kicked into overdrive in the past several months. —Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 12 May 2025

Under normal circumstances, a stay at St. Croix’s historic Buccaneer Beach and Golf Resort, the site of a former sugar plantation and mill, would put my history nerd gears into overdrive. —Essence, 12 May 2025

But that worry has gone into overdrive upon learning that Carlos’ body was found in the Truckee River. —Oline H. Cogdill, Sun Sentinel, 8 May 2025

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