Overtask: meaning, definitions and examples

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overtask

 

[ əʊvəˈtɑːsk ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

to assign too much work or responsibility

To overtask means to burden or overwhelm someone with an excessive amount of work or responsibilities, often beyond what is reasonable or achievable. This can lead to stress, burnout, and decreased productivity.

Synonyms

exhaust, overburden, overload, overwhelm, overwork.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
overtask

Used when someone is given more work than they can handle. Commonly used in professional or academic settings.

  • The manager should be careful not to overtask the team.
  • Teachers should avoid overtasking students with excessive homework.
overburden

Used when someone is carrying too much responsibility or weight, often leading to stress. Can be used both physically and metaphorically.

  • The caregiver felt overburdened by the additional responsibilities.
  • The backpack was overburdened with heavy books.
overwhelm

Used to describe a state of being completely overcome by emotions, tasks, or situations. Often used to convey a sense of being unable to cope.

  • She felt overwhelmed by the amount of support she received after the accident.
  • New students may feel overwhelmed by the transition to college life.
overload

Used to describe a situation where something or someone is given too much to handle at once, often resulting in failure or breakdown. Can be used technically or metaphorically.

  • The computer crashed because it was overloaded with too many programs running at once.
  • Don't overload the washing machine; it won't clean the clothes properly.
overwork

Used to indicate working too much or too hard, often leading to exhaustion or burnout.

  • The doctor warned him about the dangers of chronic overwork.
  • She tends to overwork herself, staying late at the office almost every night.
exhaust

Used to describe a state of extreme physical or mental tiredness, often after a long period of effort.

  • After running the marathon, she was completely exhausted.
  • A full day of work in the sun exhausted him.

Examples of usage

  • He was overtasked with multiple projects and deadlines.
  • She felt overtasked after taking on additional responsibilities at work.
  • The manager tends to overtask his employees, causing high turnover rates.
  • The teacher should be careful not to overtask students with too much homework.
  • It's important for leaders to avoid overtasking their team members.

Translations

Translations of the word "overtask" in other languages:

🇵🇹 sobrecarga

🇮🇳 अधिक कार्य

🇩🇪 Überaufgabe

🇮🇩 tugas berlebihan

🇺🇦 перенавантаження

🇵🇱 nadmiar obowiązków

🇯🇵 過剰な仕事

🇫🇷 surcharge de travail

🇪🇸 sobrecarga

🇹🇷 aşırı görev

🇰🇷 과도한 작업

🇸🇦 عبء زائد

🇨🇿 přetížení

🇸🇰 preťaženie

🇨🇳 超负荷

🇸🇮 preobremenitev

🇮🇸 ofálag

🇰🇿 жүктеме

🇬🇪 ზედმეტი ამოცანა

🇦🇿 artıq yük

🇲🇽 sobrecarga

Etymology

The word 'overtask' originated from the combination of 'over-' (indicating excessive or beyond) and 'task' (a piece of work to be done or undertaken). The concept of overtasking has been recognized as a potential issue in various contexts, such as work environments, education, and project management, highlighting the importance of balancing workload and responsibilities.

See also: multitasker, taskbar, taskmaster, tasks.