noun
overdrive
oh-vuh-DRYV
noun
1
A high gear in a vehicle that reduces engine speed at higher road speeds, improving fuel economy.
"The car shifted smoothly into overdrive on the highway."
2
A state of intense or heightened activity.
"The kitchen went into overdrive as the dinner rush began."
How to Use Overdrive
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a high gear for efficient driving, or a burst of intense activity ("kick into overdrive").
Common pairings
go into overdrive
kick into overdrive
Word Forms
overdrove past tense, overdriven past tense, overdrives plural, overdrives singular
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Etymology
From Old English oferdrīfan, "to drive over," from over- + drive.