overrun
to rove over (a country, region, etc.); invade; ravage: a time when looting hordes had overrun the province.
to swarm over in great numbers, as animals, especially vermin; infest: The house had been overrun by rats.
to spread or grow rapidly over, as plants, especially vines, weeds, etc.: a garden overrun with weeds.
to attack and defeat decisively, occupying and controlling the enemy's position; overwhelm.
to spread rapidly throughout, as a new idea or spirit: a rekindling of scholarship that had overrun Europe.
to run or go beyond, as a certain limit: The new jet overran the landing field.
to exceed, as a budget or estimate: to overrun one's allotted time.
to run over; overflow: During the flood season, the river overruns its banks for several miles.
Printing.
to print additional copies of (a book, pamphlet, etc.) in excess of the original or the usual order.
to carry over (type or words) to another page.
Nautical.
to sail past (an intended stopping or turning point) by accident.
(of a ship) to complete (a schedule of calls) more rapidly than anticipated.
to outrun; overtake in running.
to run over; overflow: a stream that always overruns at springtime.
to exceed the proper, desired, or normal quantity, limit, order, etc.: Do you want to overrun on this next issue?
an act or instance of overrunning.
an amount in excess; surplus: an overrun of 10,000 copies of a new book.
the exceeding of estimated costs in design, development, and production, especially as estimated in a contract: a staggering overrun on the new fighter plane.
the amount exceeded: an overrun of $500,000 for each fighter plane.
a run on an item of manufacture beyond the quantity ordered by a customer and often offered at a discount.
the amount by which the volume of a food, as butter or ice cream, is increased above the original volume by the inclusion of air, water, or another substance: With only a 20 percent overrun, this is an excellent ice cream.
Origin of overrun
1Words Nearby overrun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use overrun in a sentence
Finally, after multiple delays and budget overruns, the California High Speed Rail Authority’s project aims to begin service around 2029, according to CEO Brian Kelly.
Amtrak's Boss Has a Plan to Make You Love Trains Again. Will it Work? | Patrick Lucas Austin | May 3, 2021 | TimeI’ll bet you see the outlet store as a repository for department store overruns, department store offseason items, and a place to get a great bargain.
Despite its successful engine test Thursday, the program has suffered years of setbacks, delays and significant cost overruns.
As a member of Congress, Bill Nelson flew to space. As NASA administrator, he’ll face a host of challenges. | Christian Davenport | March 19, 2021 | Washington PostConstruction started in 2017 but mostly stopped in September 2020, after the contractor quit over what it said were 2 ½ years of delays and hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of cost overruns.
Purple Line opponents argue that construction violates federal water protections | Katherine Shaver | March 12, 2021 | Washington PostIn response, Metro Chief Operating Officer Joe Leader said software has been updated in 7000-series trains to help prevent overruns while Metro also installs a similar system in 6000-series trains.
Silver Line extension to Dulles Airport likely to open around February, Metro says | Justin George | March 12, 2021 | Washington Post
Islands overrun by flawed people, both indigenous and imperialist.
He was one of six children who had been in the Ebola isolation center that had been overrun.
Had they overrun the Iraqi unit,” Dempsey said, “it was a straight shot to the airport.
Iraqis Swear: Baghdad Airport is Safe From ISIS | Susannah George | October 13, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThe episode includes satirical images of crime-ridden, rat-infested slums overrun by child-biting monkeys.
Mr. Simpson Goes to Washington: How Homer Influenced Politics | Asawin Suebsaeng | August 27, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTHospitals, overrun with Ebola patients and low on supplies, are not available for his 8-month pregnant wife.
Courageous Filmmakers Are Fighting Ebola On Screen | Abby Haglage | August 20, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTBefore the country was overrun by the white man, they probably inhabited the region bordering on the Mississippi.
Domestic Animals | Richard L. AllenBetter let France overrun Hanover, for, as we shall possess her colonies, we can force her to surrender it again.
The Political History of England - Vol. X. | William HuntThey have been sheltering refugees from every nation that has been devastated and overrun by the mad Huns.
Private Peat | Harold R. PeatThe consequence was that the whole city was overrun with pamphlets.
This place is completely overrun by soldiers passing and repassing.
A Confederate Girl's Diary | Sarah Margan Dawson
British Dictionary definitions for overrun
(tr) to attack or invade and defeat conclusively
(tr) to swarm or spread over rapidly
to run over (something); overflow
to extend or run beyond a limit
(intr) (of an engine) to run with a closed throttle at a speed dictated by that of the vehicle it drives, as on a decline
(tr)
to print (a book, journal, etc) in a greater quantity than ordered
to print additional copies of (a publication)
(tr) printing to transfer (set type and other matter) from one column, line, or page, to another
(tr) archaic to run faster than
the act or an instance of overrunning
the amount or extent of overrunning
the number of copies of a publication in excess of the quantity ordered
the cleared level area at the end of an airport runway
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
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