overflow

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

/ verb ˌoʊ vərˈfloʊ; noun ˈoʊ vərˌfloʊ /

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See synonyms for: overflow / overflowing 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.

OTHER WORDS FOR overflow

13 overabundance, surplus, plethora, flood, glut.

See synonyms for overflow on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of overflow

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

OTHER WORDS FROM overflow

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

How to use overflow in a sentence

There is also much that is almost always overflown with waters, and is a perpetual swamp.
A New Guide for Emigrants to the West|J. M. Peck
It was evident from the appearance of the flood here, that it had been recently overflown.
Rambles in the Mammoth Cave, during the Year 1844|Alexander Clark Bullitt
It is about twelve feet wide and two deep; both sides are overflown marsh, making the place very difficult to cross.
The Life of Isaac Ingalls Stevens, Volume I (of 2)|Hazard Stevens
And with the arms of a flood shall they be overflown from before him, and shall be broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant.
The Book of Daniel Unlocked|W. S. Auchincloss

Three children ragged, with naked legs, were playing there in a stream that was overflown.
A Tour Through The Pyrenees|Hippolyte Adolphe Taine

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

overflow

OTHER WORDS FOR overflow

Origin of overflow

OTHER WORDS FROM overflow

Words related to overflow

How to use overflow in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for overflow