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
Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2026
More than 100 community members crowded the district’s meeting room, while at least 100 others were seated in overflow rooms and an additional 50 individuals stood outside the building doors, which district staff locked because the space was at maximum capacity.
—Molly Gibbs, Mercury News, 11 Feb. 2026
Julia James, Dallas Morning News, 19 Feb. 2026
Park staff in July partially opened the valve of the structure after heavy rain caused water levels to overflow the lake’s earthen dike, raising erosion concerns.
—Mary Divine, Twin Cities, 18 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for overflow
Noun
The Forum stays in rotation to support event overflow.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2026
More than 100 community members crowded the district’s meeting room, while at least 100 others were seated in overflow rooms and an additional 50 individuals stood outside the building doors, which district staff locked because the space was at maximum capacity.
—Molly Gibbs, Mercury News, 11 Feb. 2026
Verb
Fixing those backups is expensive, and sometimes clogging can cause sewage overflows into streets, yards, rivers and lakes.
—Julia James, Dallas Morning News, 19 Feb. 2026
Park staff in July partially opened the valve of the structure after heavy rain caused water levels to overflow the lake’s earthen dike, raising erosion concerns.
—Mary Divine, Twin Cities, 18 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for overflow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overflow
Noun
-
Jessica Black, 50, who drove to Saturday’s dedication from New Braunfels, said Kirk’s death unleashed a flood of sorrow.—
Sarah Bahari,
Dallas Morning News,
21 Feb. 2026
-
The restoration also comes as recent storms have highlighted flood risks across the Bay Area, and rising seas increasingly threaten low-lying shoreline communities.—
Ryan Macasero,
Mercury News,
21 Feb. 2026
Noun
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But if the sale was conducted fairly and the homeowner received the surplus, that’s all the Constitution requires, according to the department.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
21 Feb. 2026
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After that window, if the items go unclaimed, they may be destroyed, turned over to state surplus agencies, or sold as excess property.—
Iona Brannon,
Travel + Leisure,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The tension also spilled into his confrontations with the judicial branch.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Meanwhile, tools tested at borders spill into databases and daily life, collapsing distance between watcher and watched.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The home was fully engulfed in flames, according to officers.—
Madeline King,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Two women died early Monday after being rescued from a house that had been engulfed in flames in the west Chicago suburb of Northlake.—
Asal Rezaei,
CBS News,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The subject of threats and lawsuits and NCAA sanctions against the university, the Chief (portrayed by student Dan Maloney) burst onto the basketball court at Assembly Hall for his final, three-minute dance.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Mamdani’s demands don’t seem to be moving lawmakers either, bursting his socialist bubble.—
Joe Battenfeld,
Boston Herald,
21 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The exhibition turned into an enchanting torrent of paper planes made from Chinese red envelopes—commonly gifted during Lunar New Year—which fell in unison seven stories down to the sound of gasps of awe.—
Savannah Hanoum,
Vogue,
20 Feb. 2026
-
The Camden diocese, like others nationwide, filed for bankruptcy amid a torrent of lawsuits after the statute of limitations was relaxed.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The goal is not to eliminate necessities, but to remove the excess that clutters both your space and your mind.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
19 Feb. 2026
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Start with a dry face, massage it in to loosen things up, then apply water to emulsify, and reach for a washcloth to get rid of any excess.—
Jessie Quinn,
StyleCaster,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
To clean slow cookers with non-removable inserts, fill it with hot water and dish soap, being careful to leave room at the top and not overfill it.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Alesia overfilled the pans, which means the muffins look atrocious.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overflow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overflow. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
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