overbook

verb

over·book | \ ˌō-vər-ˈbu̇k

How to pronounce overbook (audio)

\

overbooked; overbooking; overbooks

Definition of overbook

transitive verb

: to issue reservations for (something, such as an airplane flight) in excess of the space available

intransitive verb

: to issue reservations in excess of the space available

Examples of overbook in a Sentence

The flight was overbooked, and I got bumped off. The airline overbooked the flight. The doctor's office called and said that they overbooked the appointments for today.

Recent Examples on the Web Because customers can now cancel without penalty, those assumptions are no longer valid, and airlines have already started to overbook more flights. — Christopher Elliott, USA TODAY, "What should travelers expect in 2021? Here's what experts predict," 25 Dec. 2020 Those ensure airlines will do things like provide passengers with water when delayed on the tarmac or, if overbooked, ask passengers for volunteers before others are bumped off involuntarily. — Holly Yan And Scottie Andrew, CNN, "A passenger said she's hurt after her reclined seat was repeatedly 'punched.' She asked for help, but said a flight attendant threatened her," 18 Feb. 2020 That charge is a big reason why UTSA and Army are contracted to play three more times, with games in 2020, 2022 and 2023, but those games have not been announced and are in flux because the Roadrunners are overbooked in two of those years. — Nick Talbot, ExpressNews.com, "UTSA-Army a fitting game for Military City USA," 11 Sep. 2019 The University of Kentucky's dormitories are overbooked, with about 400 more applications for housing than there are available beds. — Morgan Watkins, The Courier-Journal, "University of Kentucky's dorms are overbooked, with more students than beds," 22 July 2019 The cabbie informs you that your destination — a hotel, temple, museum, teahouse — is overbooked or closed and takes you to his friend’s lodging or attraction. — Andrea Sachs, Twin Cities, "10 common travel scams — and how to avoid them," 10 Aug. 2019 Hotels can be overbooked, flights get canceled, and severe weather may cause disruptions. — Joni Sweet, Cincinnati.com, "4 tips for jet-setting seniors who want to travel during their golden years," 10 July 2019 According to Natalie Achonwa, who documented the team's journey on Twitter, every flight was overbooked. — Leah Asmelash And Brian Ries, CNN, "The struggle was real for these WNBA players trying to get home after a game," 25 June 2019 There are the security delays and changing restrictions, overbooking and flight delays with no communication. — Pat Lenhoff, chicagotribune.com, "Column: The magic and horror of air travel," 12 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'overbook.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

31 Dec 2020

Cite this Entry

“Overbook.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overbook. Accessed 25 Feb. 2021.

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More Definitions for overbook

overbook

verb

English Language Learners Definition of overbook

: to allow too many people to buy tickets or to reserve seats, tables, rooms, etc.

See the full definition for overbook in the English Language Learners Dictionary

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