overflow
[verb oh-ver-floh; noun oh-ver-floh]
- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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Origin of overflow
Synonyms
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
teeminginundationaboundingdelugecopiousexuberantsuperabundantcornucopianinundantscaturienttorrentialcopiousnessexuberanceprofusionredundancyspatesuperabundancefreshetcornucopiaredundanceExamples from the Web for overflowing
Contemporary Examples
However, I believe that our society is overflowing with lethal weapons and that we must take action to prevent more dead kids.
Soon his coffers were overflowing with revenue from rubber, palm oil, and ivory.
Brash, crass, and overflowing with wiseass attitude, he remains the ultimate postmodern superhero.
It would appear that when it came to the bottom line, Washington was not overflowing with sympathy.
Even though there is a threadbare concession stand, overflowing picnic baskets abound.
Native American Basketball Team in Wyoming Have Hoop Dreams Of Their OwnRobert Silverman
August 31, 2014
Historical Examples
His tone was filled full to overflowing with compunction as he answered.
Within the LawMarvin Dana
He was waving his arms, beside himself, overflowing with the emotion of an artist.
The Three Cities Trilogy, CompleteEmile Zola
The narrow and badly arranged galleries were packed to overflowing.
The Three Cities Trilogy, CompleteEmile Zola
It was recess and the campus was overflowing with boys and girls, but Pat was alone.
The Widow O'Callaghan's BoysGulielma Zollinger
Your overflowing valour may bring me into ruffles which I had otherwise avoided.'
Micah ClarkeArthur Conan Doyle
overflow
- 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
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- 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
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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 overflowing
overflow
overflow
n.
1580s, "act of overflowing," from overflow (v.).
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper