over·run
ˌō-vər-ˈrən 
ˌō-və-
overran
ˌō-vər-ˈran
ˌō-və-
; overrun; overrunning
1
a(1)
: to defeat decisively and occupy the positions of
(2)
: to invade and occupy or ravage
b
: to spread or swarm over : infest
2
a
: to run or go beyond or past
the plane overran the runway
b
: exceed
overrun a budget
c
: to readjust (set type) by shifting letters or words from one line into another
3
: to flow over
the river overran its banks
over·run
ˈō-vər-ˌrən
ˈō-və-
1
: an act or instance of overrunning
especially
: an exceeding of the costs estimated in a contract for development and manufacture of new equipment
2
: the amount by which something overruns
3
: a run in excess of the quantity ordered by a customer
Examples of overrun in a Sentence
Verb
The tank divisions overran the countryside.
The city was being overrun by enemy troops.
The plane overran the runway.
His speech overran the time allowed.
Recent Examples on the Web
Arkansas Online, 6 Feb. 2026
Fighting rages on Since the RSF overran el-Fasher, which had been one of the army’s last strongholds in Darfur, fighting has recently concentrated in various areas of Kordofan.
—Noha Elhennawy, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026
The first ship in the class faced persistent issues with integrating new technologies, including advanced aircraft arresting gear and weapons elevators, which contributed to delays and cost overruns.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for overrun
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Verb
Last year, the group said that people in Darfur's major city of el-Fasher, overrun by the paramilitary forces after an 18-month siege, were enduring famine.
—Arkansas Online, 6 Feb. 2026
Fighting rages on Since the RSF overran el-Fasher, which had been one of the army’s last strongholds in Darfur, fighting has recently concentrated in various areas of Kordofan.
—Noha Elhennawy, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
Noun
Mobs attacked television vans and set cars ablaze as overrun hospitals struggled to cope with scores of injured people.
—Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026
The first ship in the class faced persistent issues with integrating new technologies, including advanced aircraft arresting gear and weapons elevators, which contributed to delays and cost overruns.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for overrun
Cite this Entry
“Overrun.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overrun. Accessed 7 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
overrun
1 of 2 verb
over·run
ˌō-və(r)-ˈrən
overran
-ˈran
; overrun; overrunning
; overrun; overrunning
1
a
: to invade and occupy
the island was overrun by the enemy
b
: to spread, swarm, or grow over
a garden overrun with weeds
rats overran the ship
2
: to run or go beyond or past
overran third base
the program overran the time allowed
3
: flow over
the river overran its banks
overrun
2 of 2 noun
over·run
ˈō-və(r)-ˌrən
1
: an act or instance of overrunning
2
: the amount by which something overruns
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