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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of overflow
Nbc News, NBC news, 24 July 2025
Seating in the courtroom is available on a first-come, first-serve basis, and the hearing will be streamed in an overflow room in the courthouse, the court said.
—N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 23 July 2025
Wafaa Shurafa, Chicago Tribune, 25 July 2025
Once the participants’ pores were filled with pools of perspiration, the sweat overflowed into puddles, which, in turn, transformed into a thin film over the skin.
—Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 25 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for overflow
Noun
Court officials plan to open an overflow room, where the proceedings will be livestreamed.
—Nbc News, NBC news, 24 July 2025
Seating in the courtroom is available on a first-come, first-serve basis, and the hearing will be streamed in an overflow room in the courthouse, the court said.
—N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 23 July 2025
Verb
The Patient’s Friends Hospital overflows with parents bringing in scrawny children – 200 to 300 cases a day, said Soboh.
—Wafaa Shurafa, Chicago Tribune, 25 July 2025
Once the participants’ pores were filled with pools of perspiration, the sweat overflowed into puddles, which, in turn, transformed into a thin film over the skin.
—Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 25 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for overflow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overflow
Noun
-
Virtually every major medical association denounces it as junk science, and a flood of studies has warned of the dangers.—
Daniel Wine,
CNN Money,
6 Aug. 2025
-
However, historical data analyzed by Roger Pielke showed that the recent flood could not be attributed to climate change.—
Ian Dexter Palmer,
Forbes.com,
4 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Bespoke pricing takes away this possibility, enabling the seller to seize that consumer surplus for itself.—
George Slover,
Time,
6 Aug. 2025
-
The question now, with three straight monthly surpluses and the deficit decreasing, is this: What does Trump do?—
Ken Roberts,
Forbes.com,
6 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
That dissent spilled into view last week when thousands of settler activists toured the Israeli border region near Gaza.—
Yair Rosenberg,
The Atlantic,
7 Aug. 2025
-
Some of these flourishes feel a touch gratuitous: milk is spilled; repeated Amelia Bedelia-esque references are made to Evie’s sister losing her marbles; and, of course, there’s the name—yes, this Eve bites into an apple.—
Lora Kelley,
New Yorker,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
An explosion erupted inside the facility, engulfing both Pat Johnson and his partner in flames.—
Eric Cortellessa,
Time,
7 Aug. 2025
-
By the time deputies and Brandon Township firefighters arrived, the home was fully engulfed in flames, authorities said.—
Nour Rahal,
Freep.com,
5 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Perabo burst onto the scene as wannabe singer Violet Sanford, who moves from New Jersey to N.Y.C. to pursue her dreams — and ends up joining the Coyote Ugly crew.—
Kate Hogan,
People.com,
4 Aug. 2025
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Berries—and raspberries in particular—are another food that’s bursting with fiber.—
Audrey Bruno,
SELF,
4 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The torrent of woe-is-me stories out of Harvard never ends.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
3 Aug. 2025
-
Authorities discharged floodwater from a reservoir in Miyun on Monday after its maximum flood peak flow reached a record high of 6,550 cubic meters per second, to make space for incoming torrents, Xinhua reported.—
Nectar Gan,
CNN Money,
28 July 2025
Noun
-
Remove the hinge pin, coat it lightly with mayonnaise, reinsert it, and wipe off any excess.—
Gabi De la Rosa,
Southern Living,
31 July 2025
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The products come from creators who have exhausted their networks, and from brands looking to align excess with purpose.—
Christine Michel Carter,
Forbes.com,
28 July 2025
Verb
-
Just be sure to wash towels according to color and never overfill the machine.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
6 July 2025
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This provides a tangible way to avoid overfilling and helps create a sense of accountability.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
2 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Overflow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overflow. Accessed 15 Aug. 2025.
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