overflow

1 of 2

verb

over·​flow ˌō-vər-ˈflō 

overflowed; overflowing; overflows

transitive verb

1

: to cover with or as if with water : inundate

2

: to flow over the brim of

3

: to cause to overflow

intransitive verb

1

: to flow over bounds

2

: to fill a space to capacity and spread beyond its limits

the crowd overflowed into the street

overflow

2 of 2

noun

over·​flow ˈō-vər-ˌflō 

1

: a flowing over : inundation

2

: something that flows over : surplus

3

: an outlet or receptacle for surplus liquid

Synonyms of overflow

Verb

• flood
• spill
• overfill
• flush

Noun

• flood
• torrent

Examples of overflow in a Sentence

Verb

The river overflowed its banks.

The creek overflows every spring.

The water in the tub overflowed.

Books and papers overflowed his desk.

The paragraph overflowed the page.

Noun

a great overflow of water from the heavy rains swept mud and silt down onto the highway

an overflow of help actually made the job more complicated

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Hourslong airport waits and crowds overflowing the terminal and spilling out onto the sidewalk greeted travelers at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport early Monday morning, as a partial government shutdown leaves airport security checkpoints understaffed. —Shaddi Abusaid, AJC.com, 23 Mar. 2026

Glimpses came through in the haunting stream of ambulances in empty New York City streets or images of overflowing morgues. —Fenit Nirappil, Washington Post, 22 Mar. 2026

Noun

Volunteers were handing out face masks in case anyone went inside the houses to mitigate the smell of septic overflow, agricultural runoff, and mildew. —Chantell Murphy, Outside, 24 Mar. 2026

Parking also will be improved, Kinney said, to help manage and reduce overflow. —Talia McWright, Twin Cities, 21 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

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

Noun

1568, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for overflow

• afterglow
• akimbo
• albino
• aliquot
• allegro
• amigo
• apropos
• audio
• bungalow
• calico
• calypso
• cameo

Kids Definition

overflow

1 of 2 verb

over·​flow ˌō-vər-ˈflō 

1

: to cover with or as if with water : inundate

2

: to flow over the brim or top of

the river overflowed its banks

3

: to flow over bounds

the creek overflows every spring

4

: to fill a space up and spread beyond its limits

the paragraph overflowed the page

overflow

2 of 2 noun

over·​flow ˈō-vər-ˌflō 

1

: a flowing over : flood

2

: something that flows over : surplus

3

: an outlet or container for liquid that overflows

Medical Definition

overflow

noun

over·​flow ˈō-vər-ˌflō 

: an excessive flow or amount