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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of overflow
Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 22 Apr. 2026
Men’s letters to Shere overflow with complex feelings.
—Literary Hub, 15 Apr. 2026
Todd Feurer, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026
More than 130 people in the region died in the catastrophe triggered by slow-moving thunderstorms that caused the Guadalupe River to overflow its banks.
—Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for overflow
Noun
Reducing single-use waste helps reduce landfill overflow and conserve valuable resources.
—Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 22 Apr. 2026
Men’s letters to Shere overflow with complex feelings.
—Literary Hub, 15 Apr. 2026
Verb
The parking lots and soccer field were left underwater after the nearby Des Plaines River overflowed its banks.
—Todd Feurer, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026
More than 130 people in the region died in the catastrophe triggered by slow-moving thunderstorms that caused the Guadalupe River to overflow its banks.
—Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for overflow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overflow
Noun
-
With most municipalities at or exceeding flood levels, here is where things stood as of week’s end and what was being affected by the high water.—
Mike Danahey,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Keep reading for more information on where to park in Miami in the event of a flood threat such as a hurricane.—
Jennifer Sangalang,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Over a decade later, the spirit of that push has become a core policy for Johnson, who persuaded aldermen to support a record $1 billion TIF surplus that yielded $572 million for Chicago Public Schools and $233 million for the city.—
Jake Sheridan,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Those teams have areas of surplus and change-of-scenery candidates.—
Tim Britton,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Economists and other observers will be looking to Powell and other Fed voters to discern when the war’s toll on inflation will spill over from gas and oil to other sectors, and whether the impact on inflation will be temporary or more enduring.—
Rachel Barber,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
-
More digital ink has been spilled on this subject in recent years than on almost any other topic, but no clear consensus has emerged.—
Caitlin White,
Variety,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But when the official entourage arrived, the 67-year-old great-grandmother immediately engulfed the queen in a bear hug.—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Bell is a towering, top-heavy blocker who can engulf defenders with his initial movements and massive wingspan.—
Brooks Kubena,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In the teen’s case, five large keloids abruptly burst from her chickenpox scars, breaking out in different places on her body—on her right jaw, chest, abdomen, and right flank.—
Beth Mole,
ArsTechnica,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Amazon’s sale section is bursting with stellar deals this weekend — and these budget-friendly picks are no exception.—
Clara McMahon,
PEOPLE,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The complaint stated that officers unleashed a torrent of pepper spray, tear gas grenades, rubber bullets and baton strikes, despite the women posing no threat and complying with officers’ orders.—
William Melhado,
Sacbee.com,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Spring rains and winter snowmelt have swelled rivers and lakes, forcing torrents of water through Cheboygan County communities on its way to Lake Huron.—
Sarah Brumfield,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Other oil companies paid an excess of $3 million in addition to the crossing fee to accelerate their passage in the face of soaring oil prices.—
Alma Solis,
Fortune,
24 Apr. 2026
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This spike is a Herbig–Haro object (HH 399, specifically) — a jet of material launched by a growing protostar accreting too much matter and ejecting the excess along its rotational axis.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Tame Your Brows Don’t overfill them — just brush them up.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Miami Herald,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Two days later, Gomes Akay was seen dragging a large suitcase that appeared to be overfilled from the hotel.—
Dean Fioresi,
CBS News,
4 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overflow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overflow. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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