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• overland
  overland

  adverb

  by land; on terrain.
• Overland
  Overland

  noun

  a city in E Missouri, near St. Louis.

overland

¹ American  

[oh-ver-land, -luhnd] / ˈoʊ vərˌlænd, -lənd /

adverb

1. by land; on terrain.

   to travel overland rather than by sea.

2. over or across the land.

   a road that winds overland.

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adjective

1. proceeding, performed, or carried on overland.

   the overland route to the West.

Overland ² American  

[oh-ver-luhnd] / ˈoʊ vər lənd /

noun

1. a city in E Missouri, near St. Louis.

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overland British  

/ ˈəʊvəˌlænd /

adjective

1. over or across land

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verb

1. history to drive (cattle or sheep) overland

Other Word Forms

• overlander
  noun

Etymology

Origin of overland

First recorded in 1325–75, overland is from the Middle English word overlond. See over-, land

Example Sentences

Developing water and overland trade routes, especially along and between the Potomac and Ohio Rivers, was integral to his project for national unity, which remained unrealized during his lifetime.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026

But these overland routes are too congested, expensive and insufficient to make up for the paralysis of traditional routes, Schneider said.

From Barron's • Mar. 19, 2026

Fort Bliss is a military post focused on training and White Sands Missile Range is the country's largest overland testing range for missiles, rockets and advanced weapons.

From BBC • Feb. 11, 2026

More recent departees often take clandestine overland routes into Colombia or Brazil or risked the dangerous journey across the Darien Gap into Central America on their way north.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 12, 2026

A city of monsters, they say, but if she marches overland, where else is she to turn for food and ! water?

From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin