overflow

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

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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.

Origin of overflow

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

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

Synonyms for overflow

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR overflow ON THESAURUS.COM

13. overabundance, surplus, plethora, flood, glut.

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

Related Words for overflowing

teeming, inundation, abounding, deluge, copious, exuberant, superabundant, cornucopian, inundant, scaturient, torrential, copiousness, exuberance, profusion, redundancy, spate, superabundance, freshet, cornucopia, redundance

Examples from the Web for overflowing

Contemporary Examples of overflowing

However, I believe that our society is overflowing with lethal weapons and that we must take action to prevent more dead kids.
A Navy Vet’s Case for Gun Control
Shawn VanDiver
November 23, 2014
Soon his coffers were overflowing with revenue from rubber, palm oil, and ivory.
‘Argo’ in the Congo: The Ghosts of the Stanleyville Hostage Crisis
Nina Strochlic
November 23, 2014
Brash, crass, and overflowing with wiseass attitude, he remains the ultimate postmodern superhero.
The King of Postmodern Cool Is Reborn in ‘Ash Vs. The Evil Dead’
Nick Schager
November 15, 2014
It would appear that when it came to the bottom line, Washington was not overflowing with sympathy.
Washington’s Wheeler-Dealer Patriotism
William O’Connor
October 31, 2014
Even though there is a threadbare concession stand, overflowing picnic baskets abound.
Native American Basketball Team in Wyoming Have Hoop Dreams Of Their Own
Robert Silverman
August 31, 2014

Historical Examples of overflowing

His tone was filled full to overflowing with compunction as he answered.
Within the Law
Marvin Dana
He was waving his arms, beside himself, overflowing with the emotion of an artist.
The Three Cities Trilogy, Complete
Emile Zola
The narrow and badly arranged galleries were packed to overflowing.
The Three Cities Trilogy, Complete
Emile Zola
It was recess and the campus was overflowing with boys and girls, but Pat was alone.
The Widow O'Callaghan's Boys
Gulielma Zollinger
Your overflowing valour may bring me into ruffles which I had otherwise avoided.'
Micah Clarke
Arthur Conan Doyle

British Dictionary definitions for overflowing

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 overflowing

overflow

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

overflow

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