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.
Synonyms
- bash
- baste
- bat
- batter
- beat
- belabor
- belt
- birch
- bludgeon
- buffet
- bung up
- club
- curry
- do
- drub
- fib [British]
- flog
- hammer
- hide
- lace
- lambaste
- lambast
- lash
- lather
- lick
- maul
- mess (up)
- paddle
- pelt
- pommel
- pound
- pummel
- punch out
- rough (up)
- slate
- slog
- switch
- tan
- thrash
- thresh
- thump
- tromp
- wallop
- whale
- whip
- whop
- whap
- whup
Examples of work over in a Sentence
the mob boss's thugs really worked him over
Recent Examples on the Web
During his eight years as governor — he was reelected in 1982 with 64% of the vote — Graham developed a reputation for late hours, early morning staff calls, and a preference for hard work over back-slapping.
—
David Smiley, Miami Herald, 17 Apr. 2024
The three runs in the sixth amounted to as many as the bullpen had allowed in 12 innings of work over the first four games of this trip, a 2.25 ERA.
—Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2024
On Friday, the newspaper published this powerful front page: an empty space where all of Evan's work over the last year should have been.
—Nbc Universal, NBC News, 31 Mar. 2024
The ongoing work over the California Math Framework later brought the issue to a head.
—Teresa Watanabe, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2024
In the library, the musical’s makers worked over their ideas.
—Melena Ryzik Adali Schell, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2024
For Garoppolo, Samuel was his first, his last, his everything, because the bumper-car receiver does his work over the middle of the field and close to the line of scrimmage.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 14 Mar. 2024
The Kinsey Institute has long been a target of criticism, particularly from conservatives who’ve objected to several aspects of its work over the years, including its views about the prevalence of homosexuality.
—Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2024
The Titans are counting on Callahan to develop Will Levis, the 33rd overall pick in 2023, based on his work over his 14 NFL seasons with quarterbacks ranging from Joe Burrow, Derek Carr and Matthew Stafford to Peyton Manning.
—Teresa M. Walker, USA TODAY, 25 Jan. 2024
David Smiley, Miami Herald, 17 Apr. 2024
The three runs in the sixth amounted to as many as the bullpen had allowed in 12 innings of work over the first four games of this trip, a 2.25 ERA.
—Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2024
On Friday, the newspaper published this powerful front page: an empty space where all of Evan's work over the last year should have been.
—Nbc Universal, NBC News, 31 Mar. 2024
The ongoing work over the California Math Framework later brought the issue to a head.
—Teresa Watanabe, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2024
In the library, the musical’s makers worked over their ideas.
—Melena Ryzik Adali Schell, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2024
For Garoppolo, Samuel was his first, his last, his everything, because the bumper-car receiver does his work over the middle of the field and close to the line of scrimmage.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 14 Mar. 2024
The Kinsey Institute has long been a target of criticism, particularly from conservatives who’ve objected to several aspects of its work over the years, including its views about the prevalence of homosexuality.
—Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2024
The Titans are counting on Callahan to develop Will Levis, the 33rd overall pick in 2023, based on his work over his 14 NFL seasons with quarterbacks ranging from Joe Burrow, Derek Carr and Matthew Stafford to Peyton Manning.
—Teresa M. Walker, USA TODAY, 25 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'work over.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near work over
Cite this Entry
“Work over.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/work%20over. Accessed 27 Apr. 2024.
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