overheat

verb

over·​heat ˌō-vər-ˈhēt How to pronounce overheat (audio)
overheated; overheating; overheats
Synonyms of overheatnext

transitive verb

1
: to heat to excess
2
: to stimulate or agitate unduly

intransitive verb

: to become heated beyond a safe or desirable point

Examples of overheat in a Sentence

I overheated the food in the microwave. Be careful not to overheat the engine.
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.
Think super-powerful magnets in medical imaging and particle physics experiments; faster circuits that won’t overheat; potential for nuclear fusion plasma confinement. — Sven Badoux, New Atlas, 23 Oct. 2026 Entering the Parabolica, the course’s final curve, his rear tires overheated and lost adhesion, and the car spun off the track at some hundred and fifty miles an hour. — Sam Knight, New Yorker, 22 Oct. 2026 Mint does not like to dry out or overheat, so keep plants watered and provide shade during scorching summer afternoons. — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 18 Oct. 2026 Its wool-blend material will keep you warm without overheating. — Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 17 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for overheat

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of overheat was in the 14th century

Rhymes for overheat

See All Rhymes for overheat

Browse Nearby Words

overhear
overheat
overheated
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Overheat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overheat. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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