1
as in invaded
to enter for conquest or plunder
waves of barbarians overran the Roman Empire during its long decline
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in exceeded
to go beyond the limit of
he must not overrun his authority as governor
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in infested
to spread or swarm over in a troublesome manner
ants are overrunning the garden
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 overran
Before Monday’s deadly crash, the most recent incident involving a B-52 occurred in 2016 in Guam, after the plane overran the runway.
—
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
Los Angeles Dodgers left fielder Teoscar Hernández overran the ricochet.
—
Andrew Baggarly,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
Jung Hoo Lee, who’s still learning Oracle Park’s right field, overran Paul Goldschmidt’s base hit down the right-field line that caromed off the short, angled side wall in foul territory, allowing a single to become a double.
—
Justice Delos Santos,
Mercury News,
27 Mar. 2026
But Nazi forces soon overran much of the continent, and by the end of World War II, at least 254 of the ship’s passengers had died in the Holocaust.
—
Alex Riggins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Mar. 2026
The decision closed a flashpoint case that has bitterly divided Israel since the soldiers were arrested in 2024 at the notorious Sde Teiman military prison, prompting anger from members of the far-right government and hard-line ultranationalists who violently overran the prison in protest.
—
Julia Frankel The Associated Press,
Arkansas Online,
13 Mar. 2026
That happened shortly after a militia overran a military garrison near the Ethiopian border.
—
ABC News,
6 Mar. 2026
But word got out and large crowds of people overran the land and destroyed nearly everything Sutter had.
—
Kurt Snibbe,
Oc Register,
24 Jan. 2026
Sadat was forced to flee the Afghan capital with her family in 2021 after Taliban forces overran the city.
—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
16 Jan. 2026
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
Los Angeles Dodgers left fielder Teoscar Hernández overran the ricochet.
—
Andrew Baggarly,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
Jung Hoo Lee, who’s still learning Oracle Park’s right field, overran Paul Goldschmidt’s base hit down the right-field line that caromed off the short, angled side wall in foul territory, allowing a single to become a double.
—
Justice Delos Santos,
Mercury News,
27 Mar. 2026
But Nazi forces soon overran much of the continent, and by the end of World War II, at least 254 of the ship’s passengers had died in the Holocaust.
—
Alex Riggins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Mar. 2026
The decision closed a flashpoint case that has bitterly divided Israel since the soldiers were arrested in 2024 at the notorious Sde Teiman military prison, prompting anger from members of the far-right government and hard-line ultranationalists who violently overran the prison in protest.
—
Julia Frankel The Associated Press,
Arkansas Online,
13 Mar. 2026
That happened shortly after a militia overran a military garrison near the Ethiopian border.
—
ABC News,
6 Mar. 2026
But word got out and large crowds of people overran the land and destroyed nearly everything Sutter had.
—
Kurt Snibbe,
Oc Register,
24 Jan. 2026
Sadat was forced to flee the Afghan capital with her family in 2021 after Taliban forces overran the city.
—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
16 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overran
Verb
-
Ukraine prompts the return of sketches One year almost to the day after the COVID Diary ended, Russia invaded Ukraine.
-
Upon their return, most ended up in countries that were invaded and subdued by the German army.
Verb
-
The county did not clarify if the mixing zone had been exceeded.
-
Spending in California has generally exceeded revenue growth during Newsom’s tenure in the governor’s office, creating a chronic shortfall.
Verb
-
When left unattended in a basement for a prolonged period, things are bound to acquire mold and mildew or become infested with unwelcome guests.
-
Other animals that have been infested include sheep, goats and a dog.
Verb
-
Kerr’s home in Florida was raided by the FBI on the same day.
-
Emilee Hackney is an eighth-generation Appalachian who grew up in the coalfields of southwest Virginia in a family so impoverished her parents occasionally raided her and her brother’s piggy banks to pay the mortgage and buy groceries.
Verb
-
The search has now surpassed the first 72 hours –– the most critical window for finding survivors.
-
But, in the decades that followed, other cities caught up and eventually surpassed New York; one of them was Ibiza, where clubs like Pacha showed vacationing Europeans how to rave all night.
Verb
-
Silva served as Stockton’s mayor from 2013 to 2017, a term that was plagued by scandal.
-
Drafted in the sixth round, Smack is tasked with stabilizing a position that has plagued Green Bay since Mason Crosby's departure.
Verb
-
In a world often overwhelmed by heartbreak and division, the story confirms that love has a way of continuing on.
-
Knicks fans nearly overwhelmed it before the floats arrived.
Cite this Entry
“Overran.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overran. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
