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

The attraction has two side-by-side gondolas that seat 16 people apiece and move in pendulum style, gradually reaching a completely upside-down status and a moment of weightlessness, before going, well, overboard. —Dewayne Bevil, Orlando Sentinel, 18 Mar. 2025

Either way, this is a poor day to go overboard in any way. —Georgia Nicols, The Denver Post, 6 Mar. 2025

During Below Deck's sixth season in 2018, Freeburg made headlines for saving cast member deckhand Ashton Pienaar, who was pulled overboard when a tow line wrapped around his ankle. —Charna Flam, People.com, 28 Feb. 2025

Wine finishes can go quickly overboard, leaving the whiskey with an abundance of big, fruity, tannic notes that overpower its core identity. —Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 16 Feb. 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