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
More than 50 people pack the gallery most days, with even more seated in an overflow room. Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026 Allies packed the board’s meeting room at the school’s downtown Fort Lauderdale campus, with many settling for seating in an overflow room. Rafael Olmeda, Sun Sentinel, 25 Aug. 2026
Verb
The history of oil overflows with examples of imperialistic overreach being confronted, eventually, by populist backlash, leftist governments, and asset seizures. Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 1 Sep. 2026 Gravel Leading to a Gate Tall hedges, a trellis gate, and overflowing bushes create an atmosphere straight out of The Secret Garden novel. Wendy Rose Gould, Martha Stewart, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for overflow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overflow
Noun
  • The dam failed, triggering a catastrophic flood and contributing to failures at other dams downstream.
    Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Now there’s widespread pushback against the flood of Chinese exports.
    Jason Ma, Fortune, 6 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • South Africa has seemingly overcome its electricity crisis, with the country’s power utility, Eskom, reporting a power surplus during the winter peak-demand season, but civil society groups are wary of the surplus power being sold to data centers.
    ABC News, ABC News, 4 Sep. 2026
  • But the study results overall indicate that wearables shouldn’t be the only way to track your calorie deficit or calorie surplus goal.
    Michelle Marchante September 4, Miami Herald, 4 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Enthusiasm on Wall Street about the new LLM is high and is spilling over into OpenAI's customers and suppliers, many of which are mutually invested with the company.
    Tobias Burns, CNBC, 8 Sep. 2026
  • The powerful waves from Hurricane Marie battered Long Beach's coastal communities throughout the weekend, with sand and water spilling into streets on Labor Day.
    Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 8 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Deputies noticed an apartment on the top floor engulfed in flames and evacuated the building’s residents, said Detective Joseph Peguero Rivera, a sheriff’s office spokesman.
    David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 7 Sep. 2026
  • All that changed on August 26, when the port was engulfed by an enormous wave of water – as the first point of impact from a landslide and explosive flooding that then ripped into Nepal.
    Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The skins cling like wet T-shirts to the filling beneath, with each plump bundle nearly bursting with big, discernible chunks of shrimp and ground pork.
    Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Heaps of plot aren’t required, of course, but one watches Color of the Sun with a constant itch for something to burst through the movie’s mannered stillness and liven up the picture.
    Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • From wars – a Civil War, even – to presidential assassinations, fires, hurricanes, floods and what seems to be an unrelenting torrent of gun violence, our nation has seen its share of horror.
    Mike Kelly, USA Today, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Jackie died last month after a weeks-long battle with a mysterious illness, setting off a torrent of heart-wrenching tributes and messages from her devoted fans who hailed from around the globe.
    Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Store the excess in the refrigerator to keep the green onions fresh for longer.
    Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 8 Sep. 2026
  • But there is no question there’s going to be accountability for the corruption, for the excess, for the abuse of power that has existed coming out of this White House.
    NBC news, NBC news, 6 Sep. 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 13 Sep. 2026.

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