overflow

[ verb oh-ver-floh; noun oh-ver-floh ]

verb (used without object)

, o·ver·flowed, o·ver·flown, o·ver·flow·ing.

1. to flow or run over, as rivers or water:

   After the thaw, the river overflows and causes great damage.

2. to have the contents flowing over or spilling, as an overfull container:

   Stop pouring or your glass is going to overflow.

3. to pass from one place or part to another as if flowing from an overfull space:

   The population overflowed into the adjoining territory.

4. to be filled or supplied with in great measure:

   a heart overflowing with gratitude; a region overflowing with orchards and vineyards.

verb (used with object)

, o·ver·flowed, o·ver·flown, o·ver·flow·ing.

1. to flow over; flood; inundate:

   The river overflowed several farms.

2. to flow over or beyond (the brim, banks, borders, etc.).
3. to cause to overflow.
4. to flow over the edge or brim of (a receptacle, container, etc.).
5. to fill to the point of running over.

noun

1. an overflowing:

   the annual overflow of the Nile.

2. something that flows or runs over:

   to carry off the overflow from a fountain.

3. a portion crowded out of an overfilled place:

   to house the overflow of the museum's collection in another building.

4. an excess or superabundance:

   an overflow of applicants for the job.

   Synonyms: glut, flood, plethora, surplus, overabundance

5. an outlet or receptacle for excess liquid:

   The tank is equipped with an overflow.

overflow

verb

1. to flow or run over (a limit, brim, bank, etc)
2. to fill or be filled beyond capacity so as to spill or run over
3. intrusually foll bywith to be filled with happiness, tears, etc
4. tr to spread or cover over; flood or inundate

noun

1. overflowing matter, esp liquid
2. any outlet that enables surplus liquid to be discharged or drained off, esp one just below the top of a tank or cistern
3. the amount by which a limit, capacity, etc, is exceeded
4. computing a condition that occurs when numeric operations produce results too large to store in the memory space assigned to it

Other Words From

• over·flowa·ble adjective
• over·flowing·ly adverb
• uno·ver·flowing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of overflow¹

before 900; Middle English overflowen, Old English oferflōwan. See over-, flow

Example Sentences

"That is where we are legally allowed to be physical and manhandle players, which will hopefully overflow into other moments on the field. When we scrum, we scrum to dominate."

From BBC

There are players from Senegal, China, the Republic of Congo, Croatia, South Sudan and Nigeria on rosters, adding to the intrigue of overflowing talent in the Southland.

From Los Angeles Times

As the event is expected to draw massive crowds, an overflow viewing area will be set up in the Cathedral Plaza and the service will be livestreamed on the cathedral’s website.

From Los Angeles Times

She keeps a plastic bag overflowing with receipts from the money transfers she made each time she earned a paycheck — $200 in transfers one month, $400 another.

From Los Angeles Times

Inside, overflowing bins of accessories sit among packaged costumes and novelty items.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• brim
• bubble over
• cascade
• deluge
• drain
• drown
• engulf
• gush
• inundate
• leak
• overrun
• pour
• run over
• soak
• spill
• spill over
• submerge
• swamp