run over
Britishverb
-
(tr, adverb) to knock down (a person) with a moving vehicle
-
(intr) to overflow the capacity of (a container)
-
(intr, preposition) to examine hastily or make a rapid survey of
-
(intr, preposition) to exceed (a limit)
we've run over our time
-
Knock down and, often, pass over, as in The car ran over our dog . [First half of 1900s]
-
Review quickly, as in I'll run over the speech one more time . [Early 1600s]
-
Overflow, as in This pot's running over . This usage appears in the well-known Twenty-third Psalm: “My cup runneth over [with God's bounty].”
-
Go beyond, exceed, as in I've run over the allotted time, but there are still questions . [Early 1500s]
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.
Typical rush hour congestion already creates borderline unsafe conditions for boarding and exiting popular junctions like Penn Station and Secaucus, partially because these rail lines already run over capacity.
From Salon • Jun. 3, 2026
The line was good enough: one run over 4⅔ innings, with one walk and seven strikeouts.
From Los Angeles Times • May 9, 2026
The metal has had a strong run over the past year, but its lackluster performance during the Iran conflict has disappointed some investors who expected a sharper haven bid.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 30, 2026
Quantum pure-plays had a strong run over the same period.
From Barron's • Apr. 17, 2026
The admiral checked his pocket watch, as if this conversation had just run over its allotted time.
From "The Unseen Guest" by Maryrose Wood
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.
