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Synonyms

spill over

British  

verb

  1. (intr, adverb) to overflow or be forced out of an area, container, etc

"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

noun

  1. the act of spilling over

  2. the excess part of something

  3. economics any indirect effect of public expenditure

  4. astronomy the part of the noise associated with a radio telescope using a dish antenna caused by pick-up by a secondary antenna from directions that do not intercept the dish

"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

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.

“I am watching closely to see whether the selloff remains concentrated in the most richly valued areas of the market or begins to spill over into economically sensitive sectors,” he said.

From Barron's • Jun. 10, 2026

One of Jodar's greatest strengths is remaining composed when the ball is in play, although tension can spill over between points.

From BBC • Jun. 1, 2026

She said the run-up in energy prices will be temporary and will not spill over meaningfully to core inflation.

From MarketWatch • May 20, 2026

Plus, the destruction of the environment causes viruses to spill over from animal hosts into us.

From Salon • May 11, 2026

She sifted through the drawers, letting saris spill over the edges.

From "Interpreter of Maladies" by Jhumpa Lahiri

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