work over

verb

worked over; working over; works over

transitive verb

1

: to subject to thorough examination, study, or treatment

shelf stock worked over by shoppers

2

: to do over : rework

saved the play by working the first act over

3

: to beat up or manhandle with thoroughness

My boxing opponent worked me over in the ring.

Synonyms

• bash
• baste
• bat
• batter
• beat
• belabor
• belt
• birch
• bludgeon
• buffet
• bung up
• club
• curry
• do
• drub
• fib [British]
• flog
• hammer
• hide
• lace
• lambaste
• lambast
• lash
• lather
• lick
• maul
• mess (up)
• paddle
• pelt
• pommel
• pound
• pummel
• punch out
• rough (up)
• slate
• slog
• switch
• tan
• thrash
• thresh
• thump
• tromp
• wallop
• whale
• whip
• whop
• whap
• whup

Examples of work over in a Sentence

the mob boss's thugs really worked him over

Recent Examples on the Web

This requires discipline to do meaningful work over busy work. —Caroline Ceniza-Levine, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025

Lamprecht has two decades of experience in the sector, working over the years with luxury brands ranging from Ferragamo and Valentino to Etro. —Luisa Zargani, WWD, 24 Feb. 2025

Those whose job were funded by an excise tax on cigarettes, for example, said they were not called back to work over the weekend. —Christina Jewett, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2025

Bryant said he was punched in the face, then taken to an isolated area and worked over some more. —Graham Rayman, New York Daily News, 19 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1832, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for work over

• carryover
• changeover
• crossover
• cutover
• flashover
• hangover
• holdover
• layover
• leftover
• makeover
• moreover
• passover