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

Soon, the camera cuts to two men trading punches and another leaping overboard before Doechii arrives, speeding up on a jet ski. —Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 10 Oct. 2025

Lo then jumps overboard to escape the assault and swims through the freezing waters to shore. —Megan McCluskey, Time, 10 Oct. 2025

That's who Lo saw fall overboard. —Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Oct. 2025

Shortly after the voyage begins, Lo witnesses a woman tossed overboard and tries to get help, only to be told by the crew that everyone is accounted for. —Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 9 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