overboard

adverb

over·​board ˈō-vər-ˌbȯrd 

1

: over the side of a ship or boat into the water

2

: to extremes of enthusiasm

3

: into discard : aside

Examples of overboard in a Sentence

He threw the fish overboard.

The boy fell overboard and almost drowned.

One of the sailors fell into the water, and someone shouted “Man overboard!”.

Recent Examples on the Web

However, around 10 a.m. that morning, Lori called 911 and told authorities that her husband fell overboard while trying to fix a problem with the boat's motor, according to The Coeur d'Alene Press. —Caroline Blair, People.com, 6 July 2025

After a father jumped in after his daughter fell overboard from a Disney Cruise Line ship Sunday, the Broward County Sheriff’s Office released a statement clarifying details from its investigation. —Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 July 2025

And there was a dramatic rescue after child fell overboard on a Disney Cruise. —Olivia Munson, USA Today, 1 July 2025

In 2022, 28-year-old James Michael Grimes fell overboard from a Carnival cruise ship in the Gulf of Mexico. —Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 30 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing overboard

• go overboard
• wash overboard

Rhymes for overboard

• checkerboard
• clavichord
• fiberboard
• fibreboard
• fingerboard
• harpsichord
• motherboard
• notochord
• overlord
• paperboard
• plasterboard
• shuffleboard

Kids Definition

overboard

adverb

over·​board ˈō-vər-ˌbō(ə)rd 

-ˌbȯ(ə)rd

1

: over the side of a ship into the water

2

: to extremes of enthusiasm

go overboard for a new fad