over·flow
ˌō-vər-ˈflō 
overflowed; overflowing; overflows
1
: to cover with or as if with water : inundate
2
: to flow over the brim of
3
: to cause to overflow
1
: to flow over bounds
2
: to fill a space to capacity and spread beyond its limits
the crowd overflowed into the street
over·flow
ˈō-vər-ˌflō
1
: a flowing over : inundation
2
: something that flows over : surplus
3
: an outlet or receptacle for surplus liquid
Examples of overflow in a Sentence
Verb
The river overflowed its banks.
The creek overflows every spring.
The water in the tub overflowed.
Books and papers overflowed his desk.
The paragraph overflowed the page.
Noun
a great overflow of water from the heavy rains swept mud and silt down onto the highway
an overflow of help actually made the job more complicated
Recent Examples on the Web
Karen Hua, CBS News, 26 Mar. 2025
Independence Day Annually on July 10, The Bahamas overflows with national pride as the islands proudly commemorate their Independence Day.
—Sandra MacGregor, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025
Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 14 Mar. 2025
During rainstorms, runoff sometimes overwhelms the plant’s sewage treatment system, dumping a mixture of sewage and storm runoff directly into the Pacific Ocean – an event known as a combined sewer overflow.
—Robin Kundis Craig, The Conversation, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overflow
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Verb
The nonprofit Grace After Fire, which provides services to women veterans and their families, handles overflow from the VA, specifically connecting women to alternative resources.
—Karen Hua, CBS News, 26 Mar. 2025
Independence Day Annually on July 10, The Bahamas overflows with national pride as the islands proudly commemorate their Independence Day.
—Sandra MacGregor, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025
Noun
The Healey administration said the decision to bar people from sleeping on the floor of the airport came as an overflow shelter opened at a former prison in Norfolk last summer.
—Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 14 Mar. 2025
During rainstorms, runoff sometimes overwhelms the plant’s sewage treatment system, dumping a mixture of sewage and storm runoff directly into the Pacific Ocean – an event known as a combined sewer overflow.
—Robin Kundis Craig, The Conversation, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overflow
Cite this Entry
“Overflow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overflow. Accessed 6 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
overflow
1 of 2 verb
over·flow
ˌō-vər-ˈflō
1
: to cover with or as if with water : inundate
2
: to flow over the brim or top of
the river overflowed its banks
3
: to flow over bounds
the creek overflows every spring
4
: to fill a space up and spread beyond its limits
the paragraph overflowed the page
overflow
2 of 2 noun
over·flow
ˈō-vər-ˌflō
Medical Definition
overflow
noun
over·flow
ˈō-vər-ˌflō
: an excessive flow or amount
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