spillway

noun

spill·​way ˈspil-ˌwā 

: a passage for surplus water to run over or around an obstruction (such as a dam)

Examples of spillway in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In 2017, soaking storms led to flooding that caused $100 million in damage in downtown San Jose and the evacuation of nearly 200,000 people when the spillway at Oroville Dam, the nation’s tallest dam, in Butte County, partially collapsed under torrents of water. —Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 15 Jan. 2026

As another atmospheric river approaches Northern California, local agencies have begun conducting releases from spillways to make room for more water. —Kayla Moeller, CBS News, 3 Jan. 2026

More than 180,000 people evacuated from Yuba-Sutter and beyond when the Oroville Dam’s emergency spillway nearly failed in 2017. —Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 23 Dec. 2025

Even a short jaunt — from the Botanical Garden to Dean Village, for example — will provide a sense of peace, with the sounds of bird song and the rushing waters from old spillways. —Jeanine Barone, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1889, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for spillway

• airway
• allay
• archway
• array
• ashtray
• astray
• aue
• away
• ballet
• belay
• beltway
• beret

Kids Definition

spillway

noun

spill·​way ˈspil-ˌwā 

: a passage for extra water to run over or around a dam