overtop

verb

ˌō-vər-ˈtäp How to pronounce overtop (audio)
Definition of overtopnext
as in to exceed
to be greater, better, or stronger than a manager whose arrogance was overtopped only by his ineptitude

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of overtop At the vessel level, sheer survival is about to overtop operational efficiency. — Craig Hooper, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026 Its powerhouse was destroyed after a 1940 flood overtopped the dam, proving that continued operation has required rebuilding, not merely preservation. — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 4 Aug. 2026 The dam was in the process of being turned over to area residents when the failure occurred, releasing a torrent that also overtopped the downstream Sanford Dam and flooded the city of Midland. — ABC News, 23 Apr. 2026 The Bellaire Dam received a $500,000 grant in 2024 from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy's Dam Risk Reduction program to study the dam and design a fix for previous work that found the dam would overtop its banks during a 100-year rain event. — Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 14 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for overtop
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overtop
  1. exceed
  2. top
  3. surpass
  4. eclipse
  5. better
Verb
  • If the heat produced exceeds the system’s ability to dissipate it, internal temperatures can rise and affect operating reliability.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 5 Nov. 2026
  • However, the Times reported that China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology listed more than 400 different humanoid models in production and had rolled out numbers exceeding 40,000 units in the first half of 2026.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of exceed
Verb
  • The Sukhothai-style tom yum noodle soup is a must-order, and encapsulates the best of Thai noodle soups with a deeply savory-acidic broth topped with bouncy fish cakes, meatballs, and rice noodles.
    — Ali Domrongchai, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The Man With The Bag follows in the wake of Amazon MGM Studios holiday comedies Candy Cane Lane (2023), starring Eddie Murphy; Red One (2024), featuring an ensemble cast topped by Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans, and Oh.
    — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of top
Verb
  • The year was the hottest ever recorded at the time, after which it was surpassed by 2024.
    — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 30 Oct. 2026
  • That model has changed, with one recent report indicating that bot and agent HTML traffic is surpassing human traffic.
    — Xin Guo, Forbes.com, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of surpass
Verb
  • Ryan Tannehill was still the starter then, and Willis got three starts as a rookie, never eclipsing 100 yards passing in any of those games.
    — David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2026
  • His property income has been eclipsed by his more lucrative cryptocurrency ventures.
    — Jamie Ross, Washington Post, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of eclipse
Verb
  • On top of emphasizing a core value set aimed at bettering the working class, many DSA candidates tapped into voter frustrations with the larger political system.
    — Elena Moore, NPR, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Forty-three percent of US adults say the federal government is effective at bettering people’s lives, down from 51% in 2025, according to a new Bentley University-Gallup survey.
    — Morgan Chalfant, semafor.com, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of better

Browse Nearby Words

overtook
overtop
overtopped
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Cite this Entry

“Overtop.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overtop. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

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