overboard

adverb

over·​board ˈō-vər-ˌbȯrd How to pronounce overboard (audio)
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
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.
Meadows died after he was reported to have fallen overboard. Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2026 Now, don’t expect the Lions to go overboard. Colton Pouncy, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2026 People hurl wooden crates overboard, tumble off rafts, and frantically don life jackets—sometimes all at once. Kristen Geil, Outside, 24 Feb. 2026 Now back in the harbor, the ship arrives as if from the past without its long-missing deckhands, who may have thrown themselves overboard. Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 11 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for overboard

Word History

First Known Use

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

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Overboard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overboard. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

overboard

adverb
over·​board ˈō-vər-ˌbō(ə)rd How to pronounce overboard (audio)
-ˌbȯ(ə)rd
1
: over the side of a ship into the water
2
: to extremes of enthusiasm
go overboard for a new fad

More from Merriam-Webster on overboard

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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