overtop

verb

over·​top ˌō-vər-ˈtäp 

overtopped; overtopping; overtops

transitive verb

1

: to rise above the top of

2

: to be superior to

3

: surpass

Synonyms

• beat
• better
• eclipse
• exceed
• excel
• outclass
• outdistance
• outdo
• outgun
• outmatch
• outshine
• outstrip
• surpass
• top
• tower (over)
• transcend

Examples of overtop in a Sentence

a manager whose arrogance was overtopped only by his ineptitude

Recent Examples on the Web

Water levels at Lake Powell threatened to overtop Glen Canyon Dam, so engineers assessed the situation and came up with a solution: plywood. —Shaun McKinnon, The Arizona Republic, 10 Dec. 2024

Wade tells me that if the gutters are overtopped with water, this can damage your home's foundation. —Terri Williams, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024

Consider creating a well of ketchup to dip your hash browns into (rather than drizzling the ketchup overtop them), and legend has it some folks have smuggled their own toppings. —Catherine Jessee, Southern Living, 6 Oct. 2024

Floodwaters overtopped the 124-foot tall Lake Lure hydroelectric dam today, forcing evacuations from the inundation zone downstream. —NBC News, 28 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1594, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for overtop

• barbershop
• countertop
• lollipop
• mountaintop
• photoshop
• tabletop
• turboprop
• atop
• backdrop
• backstop
• bebop
• blacktop

Kids Definition

overtop

verb

over·​top ˌō-vər-ˈtäp 

1

: to rise above the top of : go beyond in height

overtopped my cousin by 3 inches

2

: surpass