overhaul
/əʊ.vəˈhɔːl/ (bre, ipa) · /oʊ.vɚˈhɑːl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌō-vər-ˈhȯl/ (ame, mw) · /ˈəʊvəhɔːl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈəʊvərhɔːl/ (ame, ipa)
overhaul — verb
- overhaulpresent simple I / you / we / they
- overhauls3rd person singular
- overhauling-ing form
- overhauledpast simple
1. to take apart and rebuild a piece of equipment such as an engine or motor so tha
to take apart and rebuild a piece of equipment such as an engine or motor so that every worn or broken part is replaced and the machine works like new
Mechanic Elena spent three weeks overhauling the old bus engine at the depot.
The ship's crew overhauled the diesel generator before the long voyage across the Pacific.
overhaul + mechanical object (engine, generator, pump)
After the aircraft was overhauled, all safety checks came back normal.
Kwame decided to overhaul his father's old motorcycle rather than buy a new one.
The factory overhauled every conveyor belt motor during the summer shutdown period.
- rebuild
more specific — implies disassembling and reassembling, very common with engines
- recondition
more formal; used for industrial or military equipment that is restored to working order
文法句型
overhaul + noun phrase (the equipment being rebuilt)
用法筆記
The direct object is typically a specific machine or piece of equipment: overhaul an engine, a motor, a pump, a boiler. The focus is on restoring full function, not fixing a single broken part.
常見錯誤
2. to examine how a system, organization, or process functions and make major struc
to examine how a system, organization, or process functions and make major structural changes so that it runs far more effectively
The university overhauled its admissions process after complaints from students and parents.
overhaul + abstract system/process
The government promised to overhaul the healthcare system to reduce waiting times for patients.
After the data breach, the company overhauled all its security protocols and hired a new IT team.
The school board decided to overhaul the math curriculum to include more hands-on projects.
City officials are planning to overhaul the public transport ticketing system next year.
- reform
carries a moral or political overtone; more common for laws and institutions
- restructure
focuses on changing the arrangement or hierarchy of parts rather than fixing underlying problems
文法句型
overhaul + noun phrase (system, process, policy)
用法筆記
The object is typically an abstract structure: a system, policy, law, curriculum, procedure, or approach. The sense implies redesign from the ground up rather than small adjustments.
常見錯誤
3. to make major changes to the people working in a particular part of an organizat
to make major changes to the people working in a particular part of an organization, removing some and hiring or promoting others
The new CEO overhauled the sales department and let go of half the regional managers.
overhaul + department / team (personnel change)
After the product launch failed, the company overhauled its design team and brought in fresh talent from abroad.
The prime minister overhauled the cabinet after disappointing election results.
The hospital board voted to overhaul the nursing management after staff morale dropped sharply.
文法句型
overhaul + noun phrase (department, team, management)
用法筆記
The object is a group of people viewed as a unit — team, department, staff, cabinet, leadership. The emphasis is on replacing individuals rather than changing structures or processes.
overhaul — noun
- overhaulsingular
- overhaulsplural
1. the act of taking apart and rebuilding a machine or engine, where each worn or b
the act of taking apart and rebuilding a machine or engine, where each worn or broken part is checked and replaced to bring it back to full working order
The car needed a complete engine overhaul before it could pass the safety test.
complete / major / thorough + overhaul
The garage charges two thousand dollars for a full transmission overhaul on older trucks.
After the overhaul, the factory's main pump ran more quietly and used less electricity.
The helicopter underwent a scheduled overhaul every six months to keep it safe to fly.
The mechanic carried out a thorough overhaul of the boat's outboard motor.
文法句型
a / an + overhaul + of + noun phrase
用法筆記
Frequently used with adjectives indicating scale: complete overhaul, major overhaul, thorough overhaul, full overhaul. The noun is countable — you can describe a single overhaul or several overhauls over a machine's lifetime.
常見錯誤
2. a thorough review and major redesign of a system, set of rules, or way of doing
a thorough review and major redesign of a system, set of rules, or way of doing things so that it operates far more effectively
The education system is in desperate need of a thorough overhaul from primary school upwards.
need / require / demand + a / an + overhaul
Tax laws in the country received a major overhaul last year to close loopholes and simplify the process.
receive / undergo + a / an + overhaul
The hospital's record-keeping system is outdated and requires a complete overhaul.
Scientists called for an overhaul of the research funding system to support long-term projects better.
The proposed overhaul of the voting laws sparked heated debate across the country.
- reform
suggests moral or political improvement; more ideological
- restructuring
focuses on changing the shape or hierarchy rather than fixing underlying problems
文法句型
a / an + overhaul + of + noun phrase (system, law, process)
用法筆記
Very common with of: an overhaul of the system / an overhaul of the law / an overhaul of the process. Often preceded by verbs like need, require, undergo, call for, or propose.
3. a significant change in the people who make up an organization or a particular p
a significant change in the people who make up an organization or a particular part of it, usually involving removing several existing members and hiring new ones
A complete overhaul of the coaching staff followed the team's worst season in twenty years.
complete / major + overhaul + of + [team/department/staff]
The company announced a management overhaul that would replace six of the eight department heads.
After the scandal, a personnel overhaul at the agency removed everyone who had been involved.
The hospital's nursing staff overhaul led to better patient care and higher employee satisfaction.
文法句型
a / an + overhaul + of + noun phrase (team, management, staff)
用法筆記
Typically collocates with personnel, management, leadership, coaching staff, or executive team. A personnel overhaul implies removal of existing people, not just adding new positions.