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
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
Brittney Melton, NPR, 3 July 2025
The Lockhart Park project has stalled partly because Inter Miami has been using the 20-acre parcel for overflow parking on game days.
—Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 3 July 2025
Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 July 2025
Piles of trash overflowed in Philadelphia’s streets as a city worker strike entered its second week Tuesday.
—Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 8 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for overflow
Noun
The main courtroom and overflow rooms were packed with fans, tourists, families with small children and social media influencers.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 3 July 2025
The Lockhart Park project has stalled partly because Inter Miami has been using the 20-acre parcel for overflow parking on game days.
—Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 3 July 2025
Verb
Catastrophic flash floods have devastated Central Texas, particularly Kerr County, where the Guadalupe River overflowed following intense rainfall from July 4 to 7.
—Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 July 2025
Piles of trash overflowed in Philadelphia’s streets as a city worker strike entered its second week Tuesday.
—Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 8 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for overflow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overflow
Noun
-
These funds are earmarked to directly aid flood relief and recovery efforts, providing essential support to families and communities grappling with the aftermath of the severe weather event.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
14 July 2025
-
Eight Camp Mystic structures fall within the most dangerous flood zone on FEMA maps, but that number jumps to 17 on maps from the First Street foundation — a nonprofit which takes current climate events into account and shares their models with the public.—
Bill Weir,
CNN Money,
14 July 2025
Noun
-
Non-distillers like KBD and Preservation followed suit, bottling well-aged surplus stocks for markets that wanted old American whiskey.—
Chris Perugini,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
-
An earlier regulation that introduced import quotas faced criticism and revisions for blurring the line between essential supply chain items and surplus imports.—
Mayu Saini,
Sourcing Journal,
14 July 2025
Verb
-
Altogether, the feeling is commanding and soaring and gives the confidence that you won’t be jostled into spilling your champagne—in the rear seat, with the champagne chiller, of course.—
Scotty Reiss,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
-
The first molten metal recently glided from one new three-story furnace, oozed down chutes and spilled into 26-foot casting cylinders, deep in the floor of the expansion.—
Star Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
14 July 2025
Verb
-
From the doorway, Beau could see floodwaters beginning to engulf cabins closer to the Guadalupe River, where the younger boys slept.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
10 July 2025
-
That was nothing compared to the aromas that engulfed me at the Generac stage July 4 for Porter Robinson’s stage-closing set.—
jsonline.com,
jsonline.com,
4 July 2025
Verb
-
Bubbly, bittersweet, and bursting with untapped potential, a bottle of tonic water is the key to a whole summer of compelling cocktails.—
Amiel Stanek,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
11 July 2025
-
Creativity was not limited to the attacking players — but also applied to centre-backs, who were encouraged to burst forward into midfield, or beat their man before playing the pass.—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
10 July 2025
Noun
-
Low-water crossings and small creeks became raging torrents, sweeping away roads, cabins, and vehicles.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 July 2025
-
Recent flash flooding in Texas, New Mexico and North Carolina is highlighting the extreme dangers that these raging torrents of water can bring to communities in a matter of minutes.—
July 9,
CBS News,
9 July 2025
Noun
-
Her book, like her performances, lives in the productive tension between discipline and excess.—
Matthew Clark Davison,
Literary Hub,
11 July 2025
-
Once considered a watchdog for the excesses of union leadership, the Teamsters for a Democratic Union mostly now follows O’Brien.—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
10 July 2025
Verb
-
Just be sure to wash towels according to color and never overfill the machine.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
6 July 2025
-
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 25 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share