spillover

noun

spill·​over ˈspil-ˌō-vər How to pronounce spillover (audio)
often attributive
1
: the act or an instance of spilling over
2
: a quantity that spills over
3
: an extension of something especially when an excess exists
benefiting from a spillover of prosperity from neighboring states

Examples of spillover in a Sentence

Put a pan under the pie to catch any spillovers. New technology has a positive spillover effect into countless fields.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The undeniable star of the show, though, is the picturesque grounds hosting a pool with a pergola-shaded spillover spa, an outdoor kitchen with a barbecue and pizza oven, fire pits, and steps that meander their way to the beach below. Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 2 July 2025 The spillover problem is particularly prevalent right now in the South End, residents and business leaders told the Herald on Tuesday. Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 2 July 2025 Decades of organizational psychology research support the notion that employee turnover has a spillover effect such that turnover begets turnover. Ellen Choi, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025 Even cyberattacks against critical infrastructure such as utilities had spillover effects. Bruce Schneier, The Conversation, 27 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for spillover

Word History

First Known Use

1940, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of spillover was in 1940

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Spillover.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spillover. Accessed 14 Jul. 2025.

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