over·flow
ˌō-vər-ˈflō 
overflowed; overflowing; overflows
1
: to cover with or as if with water : inundate
2
: to flow over the brim of
3
: to cause to overflow
1
: to flow over bounds
2
: to fill a space to capacity and spread beyond its limits
the crowd overflowed into the street
over·flow
ˈō-vər-ˌflō
1
: a flowing over : inundation
2
: something that flows over : surplus
3
: an outlet or receptacle for surplus liquid
Examples of overflow in a Sentence
Verb
The river overflowed its banks.
The creek overflows every spring.
The water in the tub overflowed.
Books and papers overflowed his desk.
The paragraph overflowed the page.
Noun
a great overflow of water from the heavy rains swept mud and silt down onto the highway
an overflow of help actually made the job more complicated
Recent Examples on the Web
AFAR Media, 17 June 2025
If your closet is already overflowing with summer styles, then an accessory or purse might be all that’s needed to accent a summer outfit.
—Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 16 June 2025
Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 17 June 2025
Ye arrived at about 11:30am and was inside the courthouse watching the testimony from day 23 of the trial in one of the overflow rooms before leaving after about an hour, per court personnel on the scene.
—Vivian Kwarm, New York Daily News, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for overflow
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Verb
Visitors are welcome to explore the garden overflowing with flowers and vegetables.
—AFAR Media, 17 June 2025
If your closet is already overflowing with summer styles, then an accessory or purse might be all that’s needed to accent a summer outfit.
—Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 16 June 2025
Noun
Afterward, Ye was seated in the front row of overflow room 23B, watching the monitor with his bodyguards.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 17 June 2025
Ye arrived at about 11:30am and was inside the courthouse watching the testimony from day 23 of the trial in one of the overflow rooms before leaving after about an hour, per court personnel on the scene.
—Vivian Kwarm, New York Daily News, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for overflow
Cite this Entry
“Overflow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overflow. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
overflow
1 of 2 verb
over·flow
ˌō-vər-ˈflō
1
: to cover with or as if with water : inundate
2
: to flow over the brim or top of
the river overflowed its banks
3
: to flow over bounds
the creek overflows every spring
4
: to fill a space up and spread beyond its limits
the paragraph overflowed the page
overflow
2 of 2 noun
over·flow
ˈō-vər-ˌflō
Medical Definition
overflow
noun
over·flow
ˈō-vər-ˌflō
: an excessive flow or amount
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