Overtime or over time? Meaning and difference
Overtime (one word) means extra time: hours worked beyond your normal schedule ("I worked 6 hours of overtime"), or extra play after a tied game. Over time (two words) means gradually, as time passes: "Prices rose over time."
Side by side
| overtime | over time | |
|---|---|---|
| Part of speech | noun, adjective or adverb | adverb phrase (preposition + noun) |
| Meaning | extra hours or extra play | gradually; during a period |
| Example | overtime pay; the game went to overtime | Your savings grow over time. |
| Synonyms | extra hours, OT, extra time (sports) | gradually, eventually, little by little, in the long run |
Quick test: if you can replace it with "gradually", write over time. If it means extra hours or extra play, write overtime.
What about "over the time"?
"Over the time" is not a set phrase. It only works when "the time" is followed by a description: "over the time we lived there". Otherwise, use over time.
Overtime at work
In the United States, the Fair Labor Standards Act requires covered, non-exempt employees to be paid at least one and a half times their regular rate for hours worked over 40 in a workweek. Some states, such as California, also have daily overtime rules. Work out your pay with the overtime calculator or add up your hours with the time card calculator.
Questions people ask
Is overtime one word?
Yes, when it means extra hours worked or extra play in a game. "Over time" is two words when it means gradually.
What is another word for over time?
Gradually, eventually, little by little, progressively, in the long run.
What is another word for overtime?
Extra hours, extra time, or OT for work; extra time or extra innings in sport.
Sources
Related: words and idioms about time · "clock it" meaning · what is time?
Last updated October 21, 2026.