work overtime

Meaning

To work overtime means to spend extra hours at your job beyond your regular, contracted working hours. It is a neutral expression used across almost all industries, and can refer to both paid and unpaid extra hours.

Examples

• I have to work overtime tonight to finish this project proposal.

  I have to work overtime tonight to finish this project proposal.

• Our company pays time-and-a-half when we work overtime on weekends.

  Our company pays time-and-a-half when we work overtime on weekends.

• She has been working overtime all week to prepare for the audit.

  She has been working overtime all week to prepare for the audit.

• Do you get extra pay when you are asked to work overtime?

  Do you get extra pay when you are asked to work overtime?

• Working overtime too often can quickly lead to professional burnout.

  Working overtime too often can quickly lead to professional burnout.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I need to make overtime tonight.

  ✓ I need to work overtime tonight.

  The verb 'make' is incorrect here. We use the verb 'work' with the adverbial phrase 'overtime', or 'do' with the noun 'overtime' (e.g., 'do overtime').

• ✗ He is working overtimes this week.

  ✓ He is working overtime this week.

  'Overtime' is an uncountable noun or adverb in this context and should not be pluralized.

Related Expressions

Practice

• We have a major deadline tomorrow, so I will have to ___ tonight.

  💡 Spend extra hours at your job.

  Show answer

  work overtime

• Many employees choose to ___ because they want to earn extra money.

  💡 Work beyond standard hours.

  Show answer

  work overtime