1
as in flood
a great flow of water or of something that overwhelms
a great overflow of water from the heavy rains swept mud and silt down onto the highway
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in surplus
the state or an instance of going beyond what is usual, proper, or needed
an overflow of help actually made the job more complicated
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to flood
to flow over the brim or top of
while the wine steward stood there gawking at the nearby celebrity, my expensive champagne was overflowing its glass and pouring onto our table
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to engulf
to cover with a flood
the swollen river overflowed the surrounding land and washed several houses away
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of overflow
Christopher Duggan, STAT, 27 Mar. 2026
Randall Snare, United States, 2026, WORLD PREMIERE The comments on a reluctant influencer’s first viral dance video overflow with people claiming to lose their bodies after watching it.
—William Earl, Variety, 25 Mar. 2026
Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Apr. 2026
First responders rescued a horse from an overflowing creek near Marengo, Illinois, northwest of Chicago this weekend.
—Adam Harrington, CBS News, 5 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for overflow
Noun
Generations of medical students have voiced their desire for more nutrition education, especially for practical knowledge to address numerous questions from their patients and to untangle the overflow of information and misinformation from contemporary media.
—Christopher Duggan, STAT, 27 Mar. 2026
Randall Snare, United States, 2026, WORLD PREMIERE The comments on a reluctant influencer’s first viral dance video overflow with people claiming to lose their bodies after watching it.
—William Earl, Variety, 25 Mar. 2026
Verb
Prisons are filled with the faithful and the daily news reports are overflowing with reprehensible, criminal, degenerate theists.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Apr. 2026
First responders rescued a horse from an overflowing creek near Marengo, Illinois, northwest of Chicago this weekend.
—Adam Harrington, CBS News, 5 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for overflow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overflow
Noun
-
During heavy rain, flooding is possible, especially in low-lying and flood-prone areas.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Several highways connecting the capital to the provinces have been damaged by floods and landslides, forcing travelers to take long, circuitous routes to reach Kabul, Public Works Ministry spokesman Ashraf Haqshinas said Saturday.—
Abdul Qahar Afghan,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Unable to return the surplus, the store gave every box away for free.—
Samantha Agate,
Kansas City Star,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Thanks to better weather, cocoa is on track to be in surplus over the course of 2026 for a second year running.—
Prashant Rao,
semafor.com,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Several Oahu, Kauai and Maui wastewater plants overflowed from the kona lows, spilling their contents into the ocean.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Mexico’s government reported that 800 tons of hydrocarbon-laden waste have spilled into the ocean.—
Megan Janetsky,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Slight concern engulfed Charles Lee leading into the Charlotte Hornets’ outing at Target Center on Sunday night.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Looking back, Dube said that the Living Wage Campaign served, in some ways, as a microcosm of the broader struggle over wages and living standards that has engulfed this country for the past half century.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
After heavy rain, swollen streams can burst their banks, carrying mud and boulders down the mountainsides.—
NPR,
NPR,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Fernandez-Pardo burst down the left flank then slipped the ball between two defenders and found the unmarked Haraldsson at the far post.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
But his previously unreported warning was the first of a torrent of claims and counterclaims shared by conservative commentators after Kirk’s death.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The opening salvo took out the heart of the Iranian regime, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, and triggered a torrent of hundreds of retaliatory missiles and thousands of drones from Iran across the region.—
Britannica Editors,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Revelry Reformed Already in the Middle Ages, there existed conflict between those who partook in carnival’s excesses for a higher, spiritual purpose, and those who enjoyed themselves for enjoyment’s sake.—
Tim Brinkhof,
JSTOR Daily,
1 Apr. 2026
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Pre-portioning baskets from the start, setting a one-treat-per-day rule after Easter morning and donating or freezing the excess are the strategies parents are actually using.—
Allison Palmer,
Kansas City Star,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Two days later, Gomes Akay was seen dragging a large suitcase that appeared to be overfilled from the hotel.—
Dean Fioresi,
CBS News,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Some fails stem from people overfilling the molds.—
Lisa Gutierrez
April 3,
Kansas City Star,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overflow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overflow. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
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