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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of overflow
Molly Morrow,
Chicago Tribune,
11 June 2026
In one clip, Kamohai pushes a snow plow-like device through the garage to push around the overflow.
—
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
10 June 2026
Literary Hub,
19 June 2026
Think of it as more room for your overflowing hoard of face masks and serums.
—
Audrey Lee,
Architectural Digest,
18 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for overflow
Noun
And a $50,000 contingency fund was set up in case the center needed to be open for additional nights, to provide hotel vouchers for families or to address overflow needs.
—
Molly Morrow,
Chicago Tribune,
11 June 2026
In one clip, Kamohai pushes a snow plow-like device through the garage to push around the overflow.
—
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
10 June 2026
Verb
The final tear drawn from the once overflowing beaker.
—
Literary Hub,
19 June 2026
Think of it as more room for your overflowing hoard of face masks and serums.
—
Audrey Lee,
Architectural Digest,
18 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for overflow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overflow
Noun
-
When heavy rain occurs, there is a potential for flooding, particularly in areas that are low-lying or prone to floods.
-
The alleged gunman had been spotted all over the continent in the last few months of his life, according to a flood of reports fielded by the Warren Commission.
Noun
-
In 2022, California recorded a nearly $100 billion surplus, saved just $10 billion in its rainy day fund and then spent the rest.
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Those include requiring property owners to file a claim with the government for any surplus proceeds from the tax sale.
Verb
-
The tech selloff on Tuesday also spilled into precious metals.
-
Blood is starting to spill over.
Verb
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Westeros will be engulfed in flames as the Dance of the Dragons sweeps away knights riding their mighty creatures and entire armies.
-
The sun itself will undergo this transformation in around 5 billion years, swelling out to around the orbit of Mars and engulfing the inner rocky planets, including Earth.
Verb
-
Swirl it into a sauce à la minute, at most—heat will burst the eggs and reduce texture contrast.
-
The second half was a completely different story, bursting with action on both ends of the pitch.
Noun
-
After Bores entered the race, super PACs tied to investors in ChatGPT maker OpenAI unleashed a torrent of spending aimed at torpedoing his campaign.
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After applying steady pressure against Haiti in the opening minutes, Brazil broke through with an offensive torrent.
Noun
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If feedback arrives, stay curious and trim the excess, since structure turns spark into useful results.
-
Doug Goldstein, the former longtime manager of Guns N’ Roses, who saw the hard rock group through the heights of commercial success and chaotic periods of rock ‘n’ roll excess, has died.
Verb
-
If your model uses a bag, make sure it is not overfilled.
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When overfilled, food particles can be transferred from one dish to another while running.
Cite this Entry
“Overflow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overflow. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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