ˈɛksplɔɪt ˈəʊvəˌwɜːk ˈoʊvɚˌwɝk ˌəʊvəˈwɜːk ˌoʊvɚˈwɝk the act of working too much or too long he became ill from overwork use too much This play has been overworked work excessively hard he is exploiting the students