overflow

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

/ verb ˌoʊ vərˈfloʊ; noun ˈoʊ vərˌfloʊ /

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.

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

Definition for overflown (2 of 2)

overfly

[ oh-ver-flahy ]

/ ˌoʊ vərˈflaɪ /

verb (used with object), o·ver·flew, o·ver·flown, o·ver·fly·ing.

to fly over (a specified area, territory, country, etc.): The plane lost its way and overflew foreign territory.

to fly farther than or beyond; overshoot.

to fly over or past instead of making a scheduled stop: to overfly Philadelphia because of bad weather.

verb (used without object), o·ver·flew, o·ver·flown, o·ver·fly·ing.

to fly over a particular territory, country, etc.: The plane approached the border but never overflew.

Origin of overfly

First recorded in 1550–60; over- + fly¹

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

Examples from the Web for overflown

Three children ragged, with naked legs, were playing there in a stream that was overflown.
A Tour Through The Pyrenees|Hippolyte Adolphe Taine
Deck now kept her headed for the other shore, and before long they drifted up into a meadow which was overflown for several acres.
An Undivided Union|Oliver Optic
I was beginning to loathe the overflown sense of duty which had brought me back here.
The Planet Savers|Marion Zimmer Bradley
The tank has overflown into the garden, and the bushy tops of the Bael trees are seen standing out over the waters.
My Reminiscences|Rabindranath Tagore

Whether 'the world that then was' was overflown and perished by the causes set forth, we can not tell.
Continental Monthly, Vol. I., No. IV., April, 1862|Various

British Dictionary definitions for overflown (1 of 2)

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

British Dictionary definitions for overflown (2 of 2)

overfly

/ (ˌəʊvəˈflaɪ) /

verb -flies, -flying, -flew or -flown

(tr) to fly over (a territory) or past (a point)

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 overflown (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 overflown (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

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of overflow

Definition for overflown (2 of 2)

overfly

verb (used with object), o·ver·flew, o·ver·flown, o·ver·fly·ing.

verb (used without object), o·ver·flew, o·ver·flown, o·ver·fly·ing.

Origin of overfly

Examples from the Web for overflown

British Dictionary definitions for overflown (1 of 2)

overflow

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

noun (ˈəʊvəˌfləʊ)

British Dictionary definitions for overflown (2 of 2)

overfly

verb -flies, -flying, -flew or -flown

Word Origin and History for overflown (1 of 2)

overflow

Word Origin and History for overflown (1 of 2)

overflow