overrun

1 of 2

verb

over·​run ˌō-vər-ˈrən How to pronounce overrun (audio)
ˌō-və-
overran ˌō-vər-ˈran How to pronounce overrun (audio)
ˌō-və-
; overrun; overrunning

transitive verb

1
a(1)
: to defeat decisively and occupy the positions of
(2)
: to invade and occupy or ravage
b
: to spread or swarm over : infest
2
a
: to run or go beyond or past
the plane overran the runway
b
: exceed
overrun a budget
c
: to readjust (set type) by shifting letters or words from one line into another
3
: to flow over
the river overran its banks

overrun

2 of 2

noun

over·​run ˈō-vər-ˌrən How to pronounce overrun (audio)
ˈō-və-
1
: an act or instance of overrunning
especially : an exceeding of the costs estimated in a contract for development and manufacture of new equipment
2
: the amount by which something overruns
3
: a run in excess of the quantity ordered by a customer

Examples of overrun in a Sentence

Verb The tank divisions overran the countryside. The city was being overrun by enemy troops. The plane overran the runway. His speech overran the time allowed.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
The few aid trucks that get through are overrun by desperate families at risk of starvation. John Bacon, USA TODAY, 7 Mar. 2024 Now the United States is being overrun by the Biden migrant crime. CBS News, 3 Mar. 2024 And bunkers where soldiers slept last winter were overrun by rodents drawn to the warmth of the log or rough timber structures, worsening the unpleasant conditions on the front. Andrew E. Kramer, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2024 For days before the attack on July 6, 1964, expectations grew that the North Vietnamese would attempt to overrun the camp — defended by more than 300 South Vietnamese soldiers and local militiamen, the American unit and an Australian military adviser. Brian Murphy, Washington Post, 26 Jan. 2024 Since the 323 area code overran its original boundaries in 2017 to become an overlay throughout 213’s turf, people with 323 or 213 numbers have been required to dial all 10 digits of a phone number even when calling someone in the same area code. Jon Healey, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2024 Raising the road will enable this section of North University Drive to contain floodwater from the Trinity River rather than be overrun by it. Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Feb. 2024 Overnight, Sean’s London street is overrun by the undead. Greg Orme, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2024 As the crowd overran the police and headed for the West Terrace of the Capitol, video showed Samsel on Capitol grounds for another 90 minutes, trying to pull a riot shield away from police, trying to dismantle one of the inauguration scaffolds and throwing a long two-by-four plank at officers. Tom Jackman, Washington Post, 2 Feb. 2024
Noun
Despite these efforts, the project experienced significant cost overruns and delays. George Dvorsky / Gizmodo, Quartz, 4 Mar. 2024 Promoted as among the safest and most powerful reactors ever built, the design is now known for flaws, delays and cost overruns, especially at sites at Olkiluoto in Finland, which began operating in 2023, and Flamanville in France, which is expected to come online this year. Stanley Reed, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2024 Diminished capacity has led to delays and cost overruns for several crucial weapons programs, including to build aircraft carriers and submarines. Nick Wadhams, Bloomberg.com, 22 Feb. 2024 Despite this year’s cost overruns, the state still expects to close this fiscal year with about $650 million left over. Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 17 Jan. 2024 The result was battery fires, massive delays, and cost overruns in the 787 Dreamliner program. Gautam Mukunda, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024 In 1993 it was killed by Congress partway through construction, partly because of mismanagement and budget overruns. Daniel Garisto, Scientific American, 13 Dec. 2023 They’re recently completed the construction of an all-new, ultra-contemporary residence, a decade-long project reportedly plagued by delays and cost overruns. James McClain, Robb Report, 9 Feb. 2024 The Mars Sample Return mission, a joint project with the European Space Agency, has been plagued with delays and cost overruns. Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'overrun.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Noun

1898, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of overrun was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near overrun

Cite this Entry

“Overrun.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overrun. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

overrun

1 of 2 verb
over·​run ˌō-və(r)-ˈrən How to pronounce overrun (audio)
overran -ˈran How to pronounce overrun (audio) ; overrun; overrunning
1
a
: to invade and occupy
the island was overrun by the enemy
b
: to spread, swarm, or grow over
a garden overrun with weeds
rats overran the ship
2
: to run or go beyond or past
overran third base
the program overran the time allowed
3
: flow over
the river overran its banks

overrun

2 of 2 noun
over·​run ˈō-və(r)-ˌrən How to pronounce overrun (audio)
1
: an act or instance of overrunning
2
: the amount by which something overruns

More from Merriam-Webster on overrun

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