overbook

American  

[oh-ver-book] / ˌoʊ vərˈbʊk /

verb (used with object)

1. to accept reservations for in excess of the number that can be accommodated.

   The airline routinely overbooks its flights so as to fill its planes even if there are last-minute cancellations.

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verb (used without object)

1. to accept reservations in excess of the number that can be accommodated.

   If the hotel has overbooked, some of the conventioners won't have a place to stay.

overbook British  

/ ˈəʊvəˌbuːk /

verb

1. (tr) to make more reservations than there are places, tickets, hotel rooms, etc, available

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Etymology

Origin of overbook

1900–05; over- + book (v.)

Example Sentences

Cursory research shows that medical providers of all kinds routinely overbook patient appointments to make up for lost revenue from no-shows and late arrivals.

From MarketWatch • May 1, 2026

Indiana Health Commissioner Dr. Kristina Box said last week that the wait for an appointment could be extended from three weeks to six weeks or more to ensure the system does not overbook.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 29, 2021

“In the current climate, hotels will overbook by 10 to 15 percent of their room capacity, which will result in more guests being walked,” Dr. Pandit said.

From New York Times • Feb. 18, 2019

Just as airlines overbook seats, planemakers typically sell more aircraft than they plan to produce to protect themselves from airlines going bankrupt or failing to take delivery.

From Reuters • Feb. 6, 2018

"Does that mean we should overbook flights and start charging for everything? We don't think so."

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 12, 2018