Definition of overflownext
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
3
as in to burst
to be copiously supplied a magazine that usually overflows with home-repair tips for the do-it-yourselfer

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of overflow
Noun
Each outdoor room earns its square footage through a specific purpose rather than serving as generic overflow space. — Lauren Schuster, Kansas City Star, 16 Oct. 2026 An overflow of raw shell eggs were in an insufficient amount of ice in an ice bath. — Sacbee.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Verb
Those include a traffic control manager, provided by the district, staggering start times within the district to spread out traffic, and having overflow parking for the school so events don’t lead to people parking on neighborhood streets. — Joseph States, Chicago Tribune, 27 Oct. 2026 Mauricio Granados who works at EDITION Residences said the overflowing king tide said flooding was making the morning tough for Edgewater pedestrians. — Michael Butler, Miami Herald, 26 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for overflow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overflow
Noun
  • Rainfall may total 12 to 20 inches, causing inland flood concerns, as well.
    — Aoife Walsh, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Areas at highest risk of coastal flooding this week are Orange and San Diego counties, where the National Weather Service issued a coastal flood warning that will last through Thursday afternoon.
    — Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • State officials had to employ an accounting gimmick to divert $712 million headed for surplus into a new program to expand affordable childcare.
    — Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Ordinarily, the United States enjoys a substantial diesel surplus and is the world’s largest diesel exporter.
    — Tatiana Mitrova, Foreign Affairs, 23 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The hearing is expected to take several hours and could spill into a second day.
    — Kara Scannell, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Those pressures can spill over into health and well-being, county public health officials said.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 24 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Video footage released by Romania's intelligence service showed a person climbing the ladder of a building's fire escape, followed by brief flashes and flames engulfing a building.
    — STEPHEN McGRATH, Arkansas Online, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Video footage released by the intelligence service showed a person climbing the ladder of a building’s fire escape, followed by brief flashes and flames engulfing a building.
    — Stephen McGrath, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • So as much as Postava has burst onto the scene for the Red Wings, there is a real track record here.
    — Max Bultman, New York Times, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Economists have spent much of 2026 watching to see if the artificial intelligence bubble will burst, much like the boom-and-burn cycle of dot-com pioneer companies in the late 1990s.
    — Joel Mathis, TheWeek, 26 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • If not for the drone and rumble of multiple water pumps and torrent of water seeping through the sandbags and the buildings, Tuesday morning would have been a perfect time to visit the Fun Zone on the peninsula.
    — Fedor Zarkhin, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Remember Popcorn Time, the app that served as an easy-to-use front end for streaming torrents of movies and TV shows?
    — Stevie Bonifield, The Verge, 23 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The proportions remain practical, and the overall design avoids some of the visual excesses found elsewhere in the segment.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The hotel interprets this mantra through balanced proportions, restrained interiors, and a hospitality approach that favors comfort over excess.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Raw shell eggs were overfilled in an insert tray and measured 55 degrees.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • On the other hand, overfilling the drum can strain the motor and reduce cleaning efficiency.
    — Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Overflow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overflow. Accessed 2 Nov. 2026.

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