Overtask: meaning, definitions and examples
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overtask
[ əʊvəˈtɑːsk ]
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?
Word | Description / Examples |
---|---|
overtask |
Used when someone is given more work than they can handle. Commonly used in professional or academic settings.
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overburden |
Used when someone is carrying too much responsibility or weight, often leading to stress. Can be used both physically and metaphorically.
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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.
|
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.
|
overwork |
Used to indicate working too much or too hard, often leading to exhaustion or burnout.
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exhaust |
Used to describe a state of extreme physical or mental tiredness, often after a long period of effort.
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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.