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
Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 23 May 2026
Oh yeah, and there's a hitch receiver for sliding on a bike rack, cargo basket or alternative carrying system meant to hold any overflow.
—C.c. Weiss
may 22, New Atlas, 22 May 2026
Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 30 May 2026
From ripe peaches and juicy cherries to overflowing amounts of summer squash and bright yellow cobs of corn, summer fruits and vegetables stand as a welcome apology for the dark winters and rainy springs before it.
—Staff Author, Martha Stewart, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for overflow
Noun
Researchers believe periodic flooding and river overflows helped preserve the eggs by covering them in sediment millions of years ago.
—Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 23 May 2026
Oh yeah, and there's a hitch receiver for sliding on a bike rack, cargo basket or alternative carrying system meant to hold any overflow.
—C.c. Weiss
may 22, New Atlas, 22 May 2026
Verb
Case in point, my shoe racks (three to be exact) are currently overflowing with styles from Salomon, Adidas, Saucony, and more.
—Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 30 May 2026
From ripe peaches and juicy cherries to overflowing amounts of summer squash and bright yellow cobs of corn, summer fruits and vegetables stand as a welcome apology for the dark winters and rainy springs before it.
—Staff Author, Martha Stewart, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for overflow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overflow
Noun
-
Moments later, as his father was wrapped in a silver and gold emergency thermal blanket before being placed on a stretcher, Oun wiped away a flood of tears – a release of more than a week’s worth of agonizing suspense.—
Kocha Olarn,
CNN Money,
30 May 2026
-
At one point, a flood swept in and cut off the roads back to Marrakesh.—
Isaac Butler,
New Yorker,
30 May 2026
Noun
-
Lesser and other of Lamont’s fellow Democrats in the General Assembly’s majority have recommended tapping state finances, which have achieved unprecedented surpluses for nearly a decade, to help these households buy groceries.—
Keith M. Phaneuf,
Hartford Courant,
2 June 2026
-
The concept is the same – connecting shoppers with grocers who have surplus food nearing its best-by date – but the difference is shoppers choose specific food items offered up by the grocer in the app to pick up in the store.—
Betty Lin-Fisher,
USA Today,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
But when dangerous Ebola and hantaviruses spilled over and caused outbreaks in recent months, those research centers have not been in a position to provide aid.—
Anil Oza,
STAT,
3 June 2026
-
Investor excitement around rival Marvell in Tuesday's session could also have spilled over into Broadcom shares.—
Natasha Abellard,
CNBC,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
This has raised the risk of fires incurring heavy financial costs, and that of flare-ups engulfing people’s livelihoods.—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
1 June 2026
-
Video released by the military on social media shows a small vessel floating in the ocean before it’s hit and engulfed in a fireball.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
New York — In New York’s Hudson Valley, the artist Anicka Yi has erected columns bursting with mercurial microbial life, in hues of acid green and coffee, arranged like an archaeological dig at Storm King Art Center.—
Jacqui Palumbo,
CNN Money,
29 May 2026
-
Kvaratskehlia’s father, Badri, a professional player himself, had countless footballs burst by its sharp metal.—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
My one-bedroom suite had a bathtub in the bedroom with water that flowed from the ceiling in a torrent—an unusual and noisy way to fill a bath tub, but certainly memorable.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
There’s plenty of chatter behind the scenes about more stories to come after the torrent of revelations since Platner announced his campaign.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
Swimsuits for women my size are typically cumbersome, made with a confusing excess of fabric, and frumpy.—
Tamim Alnuweiri,
InStyle,
29 May 2026
-
The areas in red are indicative of temperatures well in excess of 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) and include major European cities such as Madrid and Paris.—
Adam Kovac,
Scientific American,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
When overfilled, food particles can be transferred from one dish to another while running.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
28 May 2026
-
Just make sure not to overfill, so those peaches stay sealed in.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
23 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overflow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overflow. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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