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Meaning & use

overtime

noun, adverb·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ˈəʊvətaɪm/
US/ˈoʊvɚtaɪm/

Meanings

  1. noununcountable

    Hours worked beyond your normal working time, or the extra pay for them.

    Grammar: No plural and no a: do overtime, not an overtime.

    Patterns

    • work overtime
    • be paid overtime
    • overtime pay

    She worked overtime all week to finish the project.

    Staff are paid overtime at one and a half times the normal rate.

    The factory has banned overtime on weekends.

  2. noununcountablesportAmerican

    An extra period added to a tied game to decide the winner.

    Grammar: Mostly American; British English says extra time. Often used without an article: go into overtime.

    Patterns

    • go into overtime
    • win in overtime

    The game went into overtime after a tie at the buzzer.

    They won in overtime with a goal in the first minute.

    Fans stayed to watch the overtime.

  3. adverbnot comparable

    Beyond the usual or expected amount of time, especially in a job.

    Grammar: Follows the verb: work overtime.

    Patterns

    • work overtime

    Nurses worked overtime during the flu season.

    He has been working overtime to pay off his debts.

    Our engineers are putting in overtime to fix the bug.

Common combinations

work overtime
We had to work overtime to meet the deadline.
overtime pay
Overtime pay is higher than regular pay.
unpaid overtime
Many employees do unpaid overtime without complaint.
go into overtime
The final went into overtime after a late equalizer.
overtime ban
Union members began an overtime ban on Monday.
mandatory overtime
The plant introduced mandatory overtime during the busy season.

Synonyms and how they differ

extra hours
Extra hours is a plain description of the added time, while overtime also implies the extra pay or work agreement.
extra time
Extra time is the British term for the added period in a tied match, while overtime is the American term.
additional work
Additional work describes extra tasks, while overtime refers to the time spent.
extra shifts
Extra shifts refers to complete added work periods, rather than a few extra hours.

Opposites

time offundertime

Word family

time noun
the measure of hours and minutes
overwork verb
to work too much or make someone work too hard
overtime rate noun
the higher hourly pay for extra hours

Commonly confused: overtime or extra time?

overtime vs extra time

In British soccer the added period is called extra time, while in American sports it is called overtime.

Practice

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