Synonyms of overflow

overflow 1 of 2

noun

ˈō-vər-ˌflō 

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

• flood
• torrent
• stream
• inundation
• influx
• tide
• river
• deluge
• bath
• avalanche
• flood tide
• Niagara
• spate
• cataract
• waterfall
• outflow
• blizzard
• inflow
• cataclysm
• cascade
• alluvion
• outpouring
• current
• flush
• surplus
• gush
• excess
• washout
• discharge
• flux
• glut
• cloudburst
• overabundance
• oversupply
• surfeit
• superabundance
• engulfment
• overage
• superfluity
• overkill
• overmuch

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• drought
• drip
• trickle
• dribble

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

• surplus
• excess
• abundance
• sufficiency
• overabundance
• oversupply
• surfeit
• surplusage
• superabundance
• overage
• superfluity
• plus
• overkill
• plethora
• plenty
• redundancy
• overplus
• fat
• bounty
• bellyful
• overmuch
• profusion
• overproduction
• plentitude
• overstock

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• deficiency
• deficit
• insufficiency
• lack
• scarcity
• undersupply
• dearth
• want

overflow

2 of 2

verb

ˌō-vər-ˈflō 

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

• flood
• spill
• overfill
• flush
• engulf
• flow
• pour
• stream
• run over
• submerge
• inundate
• overwhelm
• boil over
• deluge
• spurt
• gush
• drown
• sluice
• swamp
• spout
• wash (over)
• cascade
• well (up)
• brim
• slosh
• slop
• submerse

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• recede

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

• flood
• engulf
• overwhelm
• drown
• submerge
• inundate
• deluge
• gulf
• swamp
• flush
• overcome
• flow
• overrun
• stream
• submerse
• wet
• avalanche
• smother
• gush
• spurt
• pour
• sluice
• spout
• soak
• drench
• douse

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• drain
• dry
• dehydrate
• parch

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

• burst
• buzz
• bulge
• brim
• teem
• hum
• abound
• swarm
• crawl
• bustle
• bristle
• pullulate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• need
• want
• lack

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of overflow

Noun

Initially, Republican officials in several rural Maryland jurisdictions, under the banner of the Clean Chesapeake Coalition, challenged the deal, as they had long been aggrieved by sediment overflow events from the at-capacity dam in Cecil County. — Christine Condon, Baltimore Sun, 14 Aug. 2026

Dozens of journalists have filed to cover the trial, however, and an overflow room will be available, where a live feed will be shown. — Amethyst Martinez, USA Today, 13 Aug. 2026

Verb

Several city councilmembers maintained that neighborhoods on the periphery of the city struggle with overflowing parking and residents who live in those neighborhoods needed cars – and therefore parking — to get to work. — Luis Melecio-Zambrano, Mercury News, 19 Aug. 2026

In 2022, sections of downtown Sanford were closed for weeks after Hurricane Ian caused Lake Monroe to overflow and inundated roads near City Hall and Marina Isle. — Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Aug. 2026