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

One that has become pretty popular, but can sometimes go overboard, is a red wine finish. —Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 18 June 2026

Keep everyone safe and make sure things don’t go overboard like several watch parties and post-win celebrations did during the team’s historic playoff run. —Scott Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 18 June 2026

Nick Antosca, showrunner of the Cape Fear series, tells PEOPLE the creative team didn't want to go overboard with callbacks to the old movie. —Benjamin Vanhoose, PEOPLE, 12 June 2026

Brian Hooker told authorities his wife went overboard from the dinghy on April 4. —Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 9 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