overrun

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

verb (used with object)

, o·ver·ran [oh-ver-, ran], o·ver·run, o·ver·run·ning.

1. to rove over (a country, region, etc.); invade; ravage:

   a time when looting hordes had overrun the province.

2. to swarm over in great numbers, as animals, especially vermin; infest:

   The house had been overrun by rats.

3. to spread or grow rapidly over, as plants, especially vines, weeds, etc.:

   a garden overrun with weeds.

4. to attack and defeat decisively, occupying and controlling the enemy's position; overwhelm.
5. to spread rapidly throughout, as a new idea or spirit:

   a rekindling of scholarship that had overrun Europe.

6. to run or go beyond, as a certain limit:

   The new jet overran the landing field.

7. to exceed, as a budget or estimate:

   to overrun one's allotted time.

8. to run over; overflow:

   During the flood season, the river overruns its banks for several miles.

9. Printing.
   1. to print additional copies of (a book, pamphlet, etc.) in excess of the original or the usual order.
   2. to carry over (type or words) to another page.
10. Nautical.
    1. to sail past (an intended stopping or turning point) by accident.
    2. (of a ship) to complete (a schedule of calls) more rapidly than anticipated.
11. to outrun; overtake in running.

verb (used without object)

, o·ver·ran [oh-ver-, ran], o·ver·run, o·ver·run·ning.

1. to run over; overflow:

   a stream that always overruns at springtime.

2. to exceed the proper, desired, or normal quantity, limit, order, etc.:

   Do you want to overrun on this next issue?

noun

1. an act or instance of overrunning.
2. an amount in excess; surplus:

   an overrun of 10,000 copies of a new book.

3. the exceeding of estimated costs in design, development, and production, especially as estimated in a contract:

   a staggering overrun on the new fighter plane.

4. the amount exceeded:

   an overrun of $500,000 for each fighter plane.

5. a run on an item of manufacture beyond the quantity ordered by a customer and often offered at a discount.
6. the amount by which the volume of a food, as butter or ice cream, is increased above the original volume by the inclusion of air, water, or another substance:

   With only a 20 percent overrun, this is an excellent ice cream.

overrun

verb

1. tr to attack or invade and defeat conclusively
2. tr to swarm or spread over rapidly
3. to run over (something); overflow
4. to extend or run beyond a limit
5. intr (of an engine) to run with a closed throttle at a speed dictated by that of the vehicle it drives, as on a decline
6. tr
   1. to print (a book, journal, etc) in a greater quantity than ordered
   2. to print additional copies of (a publication)
7. tr printing to transfer (set type and other matter) from one column, line, or page, to another
8. archaic.
   tr to run faster than

noun

1. the act or an instance of overrunning
2. the amount or extent of overrunning
3. the number of copies of a publication in excess of the quantity ordered
4. the cleared level area at the end of an airport runway

Word History and Origins

Origin of overrun¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English overrennen, Old English oferyrnan; over-, run

Example Sentences

Finally, after multiple delays and budget overruns, the California High Speed Rail Authority’s project aims to begin service around 2029, according to CEO Brian Kelly.

From Time

I’ll bet you see the outlet store as a repository for department store overruns, department store offseason items, and a place to get a great bargain.

From Washington Post

Despite its successful engine test Thursday, the program has suffered years of setbacks, delays and significant cost overruns.

From Washington Post

Construction started in 2017 but mostly stopped in September 2020, after the contractor quit over what it said were 2 ½ years of delays and hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of cost overruns.

From Washington Post

In response, Metro Chief Operating Officer Joe Leader said software has been updated in 7000-series trains to help prevent overruns while Metro also installs a similar system in 6000-series trains.

From Washington Post

Islands overrun by flawed people, both indigenous and imperialist.

From The Daily Beast

He was one of six children who had been in the Ebola isolation center that had been overrun.

From The Daily Beast

Had they overrun the Iraqi unit,” Dempsey said, “it was a straight shot to the airport.

From The Daily Beast

The episode includes satirical images of crime-ridden, rat-infested slums overrun by child-biting monkeys.

From The Daily Beast

Hospitals, overrun with Ebola patients and low on supplies, are not available for his 8-month pregnant wife.

From The Daily Beast

Before the country was overrun by the white man, they probably inhabited the region bordering on the Mississippi.

From Project Gutenberg

Better let France overrun Hanover, for, as we shall possess her colonies, we can force her to surrender it again.

From Project Gutenberg

They have been sheltering refugees from every nation that has been devastated and overrun by the mad Huns.

From Project Gutenberg

The consequence was that the whole city was overrun with pamphlets.

From Project Gutenberg

This place is completely overrun by soldiers passing and repassing.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• beset
• choke
• deluge
• inundate
• invade
• overflow
• overwhelm
• ravage