overflow

1 of 2

verb

over·​flow ˌō-vər-ˈflō 

overflowed; overflowing; overflows

transitive verb

1

: to cover with or as if with water : inundate

2

: to flow over the brim of

3

: to cause to overflow

intransitive verb

1

: to flow over bounds

2

: to fill a space to capacity and spread beyond its limits

the crowd overflowed into the street

overflow

2 of 2

noun

over·​flow ˈō-vər-ˌflō 

1

: a flowing over : inundation

2

: something that flows over : surplus

3

: an outlet or receptacle for surplus liquid

Synonyms

Verb

• overfill

Noun

• alluvion
• bath
• cataclysm
• cataract
• deluge
• flood
• flood tide
• inundation
• Niagara
• spate
• torrent

Examples of overflow in a Sentence

Verb

The river overflowed its banks.

The creek overflows every spring.

The water in the tub overflowed.

Books and papers overflowed his desk.

The paragraph overflowed the page.

Noun

a great overflow of water from the heavy rains swept mud and silt down onto the highway

an overflow of help actually made the job more complicated

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

May your heart overflow with happiness today and in the year ahead. —Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 14 Jan. 2025

The shelter was overflowing with food donations, so school administrators redirected the potluck to feed firefighters and police officers. —Ali Martin, The Christian Science Monitor, 13 Jan. 2025

Noun

When the person who had signed up to speak on the proclamation was found to be absent, O’Hare asked County Administrator Chandler Merritt if there were more people in an overflow room. —Cody Copeland, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Jan. 2025

Castle, who arrived in June, has an overflow of potential. —Kelly Iko, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

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

Noun

1568, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

overflow

1 of 2 verb

over·​flow ˌō-vər-ˈflō 

1

: to cover with or as if with water : inundate

2

: to flow over the brim or top of

the river overflowed its banks

3

: to flow over bounds

the creek overflows every spring

4

: to fill a space up and spread beyond its limits

the paragraph overflowed the page

overflow

2 of 2 noun

over·​flow ˈō-vər-ˌflō 

1

: a flowing over : flood

2

: something that flows over : surplus

3

: an outlet or container for liquid that overflows

Medical Definition

overflow

noun

over·​flow ˈō-vər-ˌflō 

: an excessive flow or amount