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

But Leah Hook, founder and principal designer of Gray Oak Studio in Lynnfield, Massachusetts, urges homeowners not to go overboard. — Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 July 2026

The balloon was so weighed down that the men had to throw their sandbag ballast overboard just to gain the air. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 July 2026

When, in the lead-up to the 2001 election, his popularity was waning, Howard spread a story about Afghan asylum seekers headed for Australia throwing their children overboard, forcing the Navy to rescue them. — Oscar Schwartz, New Yorker, 29 June 2026

The impact of the crash caused everyone on board to fall overboard and into the water. — Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 23 June 2026

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