overflow

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

/ verb ˌoʊ vərˈfloʊ; noun ˈoʊ vərˌfloʊ /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR overflow ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object), o·ver·flowed, o·ver·flown, o·ver·flow·ing.

to flow or run over, as rivers or water: After the thaw, the river overflows and causes great damage.

to have the contents flowing over or spilling, as an overfull container: Stop pouring or your glass is going to overflow.

to pass from one place or part to another as if flowing from an overfull space: The population overflowed into the adjoining territory.

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.

to flow over; flood; inundate: The river overflowed several farms.

to flow over or beyond (the brim, banks, borders, etc.).

to cause to overflow.

to flow over the edge or brim of (a receptacle, container, etc.).

to fill to the point of running over.

noun

an overflowing: the annual overflow of the Nile.

something that flows or runs over: to carry off the overflow from a fountain.

a portion crowded out of an overfilled place: to house the overflow of the museum's collection in another building.

an excess or superabundance: an overflow of applicants for the job.

an outlet or receptacle for excess liquid: The tank is equipped with an overflow.

Nearby words

overfeed, overfill, overfish, overflap, overflight, overflow, overfly, overfold, overfond, overfull, overfunding

Origin of overflow

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

SYNONYMS FOR overflow

13 overabundance, surplus, plethora, flood, glut.

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Related formso·ver·flow·a·ble, adjectiveo·ver·flow·ing·ly, adverbun·o·ver·flow·ing, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for overflow

Pope Francis urged the local parish to open up a closed monastery on the island to house the overflow.
Italian Shipwreck Survivors to be Prosecuted and Fined|Barbie Latza Nadeau|October 7, 2013|DAILY BEAST
“Barack Obama believes America is in need of great change,” Santorum said to the overflow crowd of 2,500.
Rick Santorum Goes After Obama in Feisty Georgia Speech|Patricia Murphy|February 20, 2012|DAILY BEAST
The overflow crowds were thinning out—and he was becoming less of a novelty.
Santorum’s New Hampshire Expectations Plummet as Iowa Glow Wears Off|Lois Romano|January 10, 2012|DAILY BEAST
An hour to the north, at the rural Tilton School, Mitt Romney faced his own overflow crowd beneath quietly humming ceiling fans.
Mitt Romney Soars, Rick Santorum Struggles as They Battle in the New Hampshire Primary|Howard Kurtz|January 7, 2012|DAILY BEAST

An overflow room was required so that late-comers could watch the putative frontrunner on a large-screen television.
Newt Gingrich Shape-Shifts Through New Hampshire|Lloyd Grove|December 16, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Almost immediately the water, backed up behind the stern, began to overflow into the boat.
The Riverman|Stewart Edward White
This latter tank had a hand pump on one end so that the overflow gasoline could at times be pumped again into the main tank.
Smithsonian Institution - United States National Museum - Bulletin 240|Anonymous
Rivers sometimes receive such great quantities of water that they overflow their banks, and destroy much valuable property.
New National Fourth Reader|Charles J. Barnes and J. Marshall Hawkes
The original three-quarters of a mile of overflow—caused by the back water of Paxton creek—was passed without incident.
The Complete Story of the Galveston Horror|Various
Here you are all worn smooth on top and proprietor of an overflow meeting in a nursery.
At Good Old Siwash|George Fitch

British Dictionary definitions for overflow

overflow

verb (ˌəʊvəˈfləʊ) -flows or -flowing or -flowed or formerly -flown

to flow or run over (a limit, brim, bank, etc)

to fill or be filled beyond capacity so as to spill or run over

(intr usually foll by with) to be filled with happiness, tears, etc

(tr) to spread or cover over; flood or inundate

noun (ˈəʊvəˌfləʊ)

overflowing matter, esp liquid

any outlet that enables surplus liquid to be discharged or drained off, esp one just below the top of a tank or cistern

the amount by which a limit, capacity, etc, is exceeded

computing a condition that occurs when numeric operations produce results too large to store in the memory space assigned to it

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for overflow (1 of 2)

overflow

Old English oferfleow "to flow across, flood, inundate," also "to flow over (a brim or bank);" see over- + flow (v.). Related: Overflowed; overflowing.

Word Origin and History for overflow (1 of 2)

overflow

1580s, "act of overflowing," from overflow (v.).

overflow

verb (used without object), o·ver·flowed, o·ver·flown, o·ver·flow·ing.

verb (used with object), o·ver·flowed, o·ver·flown, o·ver·flow·ing.

noun

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Nearby words

Origin of overflow

Examples from the Web for overflow

British Dictionary definitions for overflow

overflow

verb (ˌəʊvəˈfləʊ) -flows or -flowing or -flowed or formerly -flown

noun (ˈəʊvəˌfləʊ)

Word Origin and History for overflow (1 of 2)

overflow

Word Origin and History for overflow (1 of 2)

overflow