overrun

American  

[oh-ver-ruhn, oh-ver-ruhn] / ˌoʊ vərˈrʌn, ˈoʊ vərˌrʌn /

verb (used with object)

overran, overrun, overrunning

1. to rove over (a country, region, etc.); invade; ravage.

   a time when looting hordes had overrun the province.

2. to swarm over in great numbers, as animals, especially vermin; infest.

   The house had been overrun by rats.

3. to spread or grow rapidly over, as plants, especially vines, weeds, etc..

   a garden overrun with weeds.

4. to attack and defeat decisively, occupying and controlling the enemy's position; overwhelm.

5. to spread rapidly throughout, as a new idea or spirit.

   a rekindling of scholarship that had overrun Europe.

6. to run or go beyond, as a certain limit.

   The new jet overran the landing field.

7. to exceed, as a budget or estimate.

   to overrun one's allotted time.

8. to run over; overflow.

   During the flood season, the river overruns its banks for several miles.

9. Printing.

   1. to print additional copies of (a book, pamphlet, etc.) in excess of the original or the usual order.

   2. to carry over (type or words) to another page.

10. Nautical.

    1. to sail past (an intended stopping or turning point) by accident.

    2. (of a ship) to complete (a schedule of calls) more rapidly than anticipated.

11. to outrun; overtake in running.

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verb (used without object)

overran, overrun, overrunning

1. to run over; overflow.

   a stream that always overruns at springtime.

2. to exceed the proper, desired, or normal quantity, limit, order, etc..

   Do you want to overrun on this next issue?

noun

1. an act or instance of overrunning.

2. an amount in excess; surplus.

   an overrun of 10,000 copies of a new book.

3. the exceeding of estimated costs in design, development, and production, especially as estimated in a contract.

   a staggering overrun on the new fighter plane.

4. the amount exceeded.

   an overrun of $500,000 for each fighter plane.

5. a run on an item of manufacture beyond the quantity ordered by a customer and often offered at a discount.

6. 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.

overrun British  

verb

1. (tr) to attack or invade and defeat conclusively

2. (tr) to swarm or spread over rapidly

3. to run over (something); overflow

4. to extend or run beyond a limit

5. (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

6. (tr)

   1. to print (a book, journal, etc) in a greater quantity than ordered

   2. to print additional copies of (a publication)

7. (tr) printing to transfer (set type and other matter) from one column, line, or page, to another

8. archaic (tr) to run faster than

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noun

1. the act or an instance of overrunning

2. the amount or extent of overrunning

3. the number of copies of a publication in excess of the quantity ordered

4. the cleared level area at the end of an airport runway

Etymology

Origin of overrun

First recorded before 900; Middle English overrennen, Old English oferyrnan; see over-, run

Explanation

Overrun means being populated in huge numbers or occupied in some way. Your beautiful beach town may be peaceful in the winter but overrun by tourists every summer. You can use this verb for a successful invading army: "The troops managed to overrun the entire peninsula, reclaiming the land they'd lost." It's also good for other kinds of invasions and infestations: "They closed my dog's daycare because it was overrun by fleas." The earliest meaning, still used today, was "continue beyond a specified time," like the class that overruns by fifteen minutes, making you very late to third-period math.

Example Sentences

The ranks of the Bull Gators—that’s the list of top boosters of the University of Florida’s athletic programs—were overrun with citrus families.

From Slate • Apr. 20, 2026

Mr. Trump is frustrated that his Administration’s criminal investigation into Mr. Powell over a cost overrun on a Fed building renovation is backfiring in a big way.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026

Keck Education Center, which will be overrun by excitable children who will get a big kick out of the fountain’s inviting whirl and swirl.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2026

The taoiseach said "Europe is still a very good place to live", adding that Europe was sometimes "characterised wrongly in terms of it being overrun".

From BBC • Mar. 18, 2026

"Hares will soon overrun the castle. We'll be eating hare thrice a day."

From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin

Related Words

• beset
• choke
• deluge
• inundate
• invade
• overflow
• overwhelm
• ravage