over·load
ˌō-vər-ˈlōd 
overloaded; overloading; overloads
: to load (something or someone) to excess: such as
a
: to put too large a load on or in (something)
overload a ship
overload a washing machine
Overloading the trailer poses a safety risk.
… a bad winter can so overload roofs with snow that their collapses become endemic.—
Henry Petroski
Henry Petroski
b
: to give too much of something to (someone or something) : to supply with an excess of something
overloading students with more information than they can retain
More than ever, the upper middle class is synonymous with the stressed-out class. Their bosses are overloading them with work …—Joseph Spiers
Joseph Spiers… have overloaded the market with too many strange designs and weird color combinations.—Mimi Valdés
Mimi Valdésa movie overloaded with special effects
a court system overloaded with criminal cases
c
: to cause too large a load in (something, such as an electrical circuit)
Too much current traveling through one circuit can cause an overload. The wires inside a wall can get too hot and start a fire. Using a special safety power strip can help prevent overloading a circuit.—Science
Science
over·load
ˈō-vər-ˌlōd
plural overloads
: an excessive load or amount of something
an overload of cargo
an overload of details
If your dog is suffering from an overload of stress, he will appear depressed, inactive, sluggish and unresponsive.—Daniel Seligman
Daniel SeligmanYou fight your superficiality, your shallowness, so as to try to come at people without unreal expectations, without an overload of bias or hope or arrogance …—Philip Roth
Philip RothIf you're a regular reader of blogs, … you've probably been frustrated from time to time by information overload: the blogosphere creates way too much material for any human being to comfortably digest.—Chris Taylor
Chris TaylorLarge department stores tend to bring on sensory overload [=overstimulation of the senses] …—Stephen O'Shea and Joan Harting
Stephen O'Shea and Joan HartingExamples of overload in a Sentence
Verb
try not to overload your backpack, or you could end up with back problems
Recent Examples on the Web
Mark Carey, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
The company says the modification ensures rainwater drains more effectively and the tent better sheds snow so as not to get overloaded.
—New Atlas, 14 Oct. 2025
Simon Johnson, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
The videos sat poorly after a weekend of Swift overload.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overload
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.
Verb
To give Kerkez credit, the Hungary international did well to head two crosses clear in the final stage of the game, with Everton players similarly overloading that far side.
—Mark Carey, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
The company says the modification ensures rainwater drains more effectively and the tent better sheds snow so as not to get overloaded.
—New Atlas, 14 Oct. 2025
Noun
When trying to work out of Brighton’s press, Malo Gusto’s mishit pass to Jadon Sancho ends in the visitors winning the ball and creating an overload; Marc Cucurella sprints over to help and flies into his challenge, picking up a yellow card.
—Simon Johnson, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
The videos sat poorly after a weekend of Swift overload.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overload
Cite this Entry
“Overload.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overload. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share