overboard

adverb

over·​board ˈō-vər-ˌbȯrd 

1

: over the side of a ship or boat into the water

2

: to extremes of enthusiasm

3

: into discard : aside

Examples of overboard in a Sentence

He threw the fish overboard.

The boy fell overboard and almost drowned.

One of the sailors fell into the water, and someone shouted “Man overboard!”.

Recent Examples on the Web

The crew of the Carnival Radiance was responding to a potential overboard alert near the waters off Ensenada, Mexico after some guests reported hearing a splash in the water, the cruise line said. —Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 21 Nov. 2025

In reality the couple, who were travelling home to the United States from their native Germany, were last seen by survivors standing together on deck, holding hands, before they were swept overboard by a wave. —Lianne Kolirin, CNN Money, 21 Nov. 2025

She was flung overboard and hit by the propellers. —CBS News, 21 Nov. 2025

The star didn't want to go overboard with makeup, opting for a minimalist approach, and the results are festive, autumnal, and refreshingly different. —Ana Serrano, Glamour, 27 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing overboard

• go overboard
• wash overboard

Rhymes for overboard

• checkerboard
• clavichord
• fiberboard
• fibreboard
• fingerboard
• harpsichord
• motherboard
• notochord
• overlord
• paperboard
• plasterboard
• shuffleboard

Kids Definition

overboard

adverb

over·​board ˈō-vər-ˌbō(ə)rd 

-ˌbȯ(ə)rd

1

: over the side of a ship into the water

2

: to extremes of enthusiasm

go overboard for a new fad