overload
Americanverb (used with object)
-
overloads,
present (3rd person singular)
-
overloaded,
past participle, past
-
overloading
present participle
noun
-
overloads
plural
verb
noun
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
overloadsimple
-
overloadssimple
-
have overloadedperfect
-
has overloadedperfect
-
am overloadingprogressive
-
are overloadingprogressive
-
is overloadingprogressive
-
have been overloadingperfect progressive
-
has been overloadingperfect progressive
Past
-
overloadedsimple
-
had overloadedperfect
-
was overloadingprogressive
-
were overloadingprogressive
-
had been overloadingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of overload
Explanation
To overload is to load an excessive amount in or on something, such as an overload of electricity which shorts out the circuits. Overloading causes a "Too much!" situation. To overload is to push something or someone too far. A supervisor can overload an employee by assigning too much work. People can overload a bus if there are too many of them. A fuse will blow if too many appliances overload the circuits; this is called an overload (the noun form). When something gets overloaded, it usually stops working. Hair can overload or clog a sink, which will stop draining water. When something gets overloaded, there's more of something than it can handle.
Vocabulary lists containing overload
The House of Hades
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
When I Was the Greatest
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
over (above, too much)
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Away from it, he was in sensory overload.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026
The cuteness overload in the AI space comes as companies are looking to shift the public’s negative perception of the technology.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 3, 2026
Smith, who now suffers from sensory overload and low energy, said he thinks of the incident every time he looks in the mirror.
From BBC ● Sep. 14, 2026
In the age of information overload, nearly every elite athlete has to figure out when to throw the watch away.
From Slate ● Aug. 11, 2026
He shook his head at the cream cheese overload and reached back into the bag.
From "The Boy in the Black Suit" by Jason Reynolds
Under Pochettino, the U.S. approach was defined by an aggressive pressing system and tactical fluidity, with the team building from a back-three structure that freed its wing backs to exploit overloads when pushing forward.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 12, 2026
Patients also recovered more quickly from metabolic crises, i.e., overloads of the energy metabolism, which can suddenly worsen the course of this disorder.
From Science Daily ● Mar. 31, 2026
Strong solar storms however bring more than just stunning light displays -- they can also disrupt communication systems and cause satellite malfunctions and power grid overloads.
From Barron's ● Nov. 13, 2025
What we have established is Amorim plays a positional style of football that looks to better opponents through overloads rather than individuals beating their man.
From BBC ● Aug. 30, 2025
A farmer is said to be stock poor when he overloads his farm or crowds his farm buildings with growing stock.
From Rural Health and Welfare by George Thompson Fairchild
The charge sheet said the migrants had been put to sea from the French coast in a boat "that was of poor quality, uncertified, unsuitable for navigation at sea, overloaded, and without correct life jackets".
From BBC ● Sep. 30, 2026
Theaters are overloaded with options and awards-season buzz starts to build as acclaimed films from festivals like Cannes hit screens nationwide.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 7, 2026
The Dollywood website became overloaded Tuesday and was inaccessible for several hours.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 28, 2026
Yet Schoenbrun’s observations are presented in the film as though they’re opaque, overloaded with smug surrealism and jam-packed with visual stimuli designed to wink and nudge at the otherwise obvious.
From Salon ● Aug. 26, 2026
Naturally he was overloaded with tattoos and piercings.
From "Shelter (Book One): A Mickey Bolitar Novel" by Harlan Coben
He also said that the maximum capacities of passenger boats should be clearly indicated to avoid overloading, which is often one of the causes when boats capsize.
From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026
These are what allow golfers to generate speed without overloading the body.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 6, 2026
But the biggest mistake many of us make is overloading the dishwasher, she says.
From BBC ● Feb. 18, 2026
"If there was overloading or overcapacity, it's possible cargo shifted ... inside the vessel," Lopez said, adding it was "highly probable" other ships in the archipelago nation were sailing overweight.
From Barron's ● Feb. 11, 2026
It felt cold, which probably meant it was so hot it was overloading Annabeth’s nerves.
From "The House of Hades" by Rick Riordan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
