overstrain

IPA/ˌəʊ.vəˈstreɪn/
IPA/ˌoʊ.vɚˈstreɪn/

overstrain — verb

  • overstrainpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • overstrains3rd person singular
  • overstraining-ing form
  • overstrainedpast simple

1. to force a body part, person, or object past a safe limit so that it becomes wea

1.verbtransitiveC1
Definition

to force a body part, person, or object past a safe limit so that it becomes weak, painful, or damaged.

Example

Ayana overstrained her shoulder by carrying two heavy water boxes upstairs.

overstrain + body part by doing something

The crew overstrained the old rope while pulling the boat onto shore.

overstrain + object until damage risk rises

Common collocations
  • overstrain your back
  • overstrain your voice
  • overstrain a rope
  • overstrain the muscles
Synonyms
  • strain

    more general and can describe pressure without clearly going past the safe limit

  • overwork

    focuses more on making a person or body part work too much over time

  • damage

    states the result directly, without highlighting excessive pressure first

Antonyms
  • rest

    to stop using something so hard and let it recover

  • protect

    to keep something from being pushed beyond a safe limit

Grammar Patterns

overstrain + body part

overstrain + object

overstrain + person

Usage Note

The object is usually a muscle, voice, joint, machine part, or person being pushed beyond what it can safely handle. It often implies actual harm, not just strong effort.

Common Mistakes

I overstrained to lift the box.
I strained to lift the box.
use 'strain' for making a strong effort; 'overstrain' usually takes a direct object that is pushed too far.
The game overstrained on my eyes.
The game overstrained my eyes.
'overstrain' normally takes the affected body part as its object.

2. to put such heavy demands on money, supplies, or other limited resources that th

2.verbtransitiveC1
Definition

to put such heavy demands on money, supplies, or other limited resources that they start to run short or fail.

Example

Free bus rides would overstrain the town budget within one year.

overstrain + budget

The sudden heat wave overstrained the village water supply by August.

overstrain + supply because demand rises

Common collocations
  • overstrain the budget
  • overstrain resources
  • overstrain the water supply
  • overstrain public services
Synonyms
  • stretch

    often means using resources almost to the limit, not necessarily past it

  • drain

    focuses on emptying resources rather than pressuring the whole system

  • burden

    broader and can describe heavy demands without resource shortage

Antonyms
  • support

    to provide extra help so a resource can cope

  • ease

    to reduce the pressure on resources

Grammar Patterns

overstrain + budget

overstrain + resources

overstrain + supply

Usage Note

This sense is used for limited resources such as budgets, supplies, staff time, or public services. Distinguish it from sense 1, which is about physical or mechanical damage to a body part, person, or object.

Common Mistakes

The new plan overstrained for our budget.
The new plan overstrained our budget.
the verb takes the resource directly as its object.
Tourists strained the water supply.
Tourists overstrained the water supply.
use 'overstrain' when the demand clearly goes beyond what the supply can support.

overstrain — noun

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

Strain is the broadest of these words. You can strain a muscle, your eyes, or a rope, and the pressure may or may not be serious. Overstrain is stronger because it says the limit has already been pushed too far, so harm is likely or has begun. Overwork is closest when the object is a person, body part, or machine doing repeated activity over time, especially work that continues for hours or days. Damage is broader and names the result without explaining that too much pressure caused it. You might strain your voice during one speech, overstrain it after repeated shouting, and damage it if the harm becomes clear.

strain ↗overwork ↗damage ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • overstrain your back
  • overstrain the budget
  • pain from overstrain
  • risk overstrain at work

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

Overstrain combines over-, meaning 'too much' or 'beyond the proper limit', with strain. The older verb strain came through Old French from Latin stringere, 'to draw tight'. English first used overstrain for pushing a body, object, or system beyond what it could safely bear, and the noun later developed from that idea of harmful excess pressure.