work over
verb
worked over; working over; works over
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.
Examples of work over in a Sentence
the mob boss's thugs really worked him over
Recent Examples on the Web
Careful excavation work over the years that has involved sifting for bones, extracting ancient DNA, and looking for prehistoric pollen has revealed not just the plants and animals that once populated this part of the world, but also the ecosystems and climates that governed it.
—
Ari Daniel, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 June 2025
Merrick says many of her friends from college work over 40 hours per week, and some have as few as three vacation days per year.
—Jennifer Liu
zachary Green, CNBC, 5 June 2025
In a viral moment from the debate, Talarico pressed her on why representatives were working over the weekend — the Jewish and Christian Sabbaths — in violation of the Fourth Commandment.
—Saul Elbein, The Hill, 30 May 2025
In a call with reporters earlier in the day, Kennedy said the commission will work over the next 80 days to issue policy recommendations for the White House based on the report's findings.
—Adrianna Rodriguez, USA Today, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for work over
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.
Ari Daniel, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 June 2025
Merrick says many of her friends from college work over 40 hours per week, and some have as few as three vacation days per year.
—Jennifer Liu
zachary Green, CNBC, 5 June 2025
In a viral moment from the debate, Talarico pressed her on why representatives were working over the weekend — the Jewish and Christian Sabbaths — in violation of the Fourth Commandment.
—Saul Elbein, The Hill, 30 May 2025
In a call with reporters earlier in the day, Kennedy said the commission will work over the next 80 days to issue policy recommendations for the White House based on the report's findings.
—Adrianna Rodriguez, USA Today, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for work over
Cite this Entry
“Work over.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/work%20over. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share