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
Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 30 Apr. 2026
Use it as a shoe rack in an entryway, a spot to display potted plants, or a pantry organizer for overflow.
—Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Apr. 2026
Los Angeles Times, 18 May 2026
Is your closet overflowing with clothing, accessories, and items galore?
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for overflow
Noun
When maintenance issues reached a crisis point with sewage overflow in 2023, residents turned to the attorney general to intervene.
—Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 30 Apr. 2026
Use it as a shoe rack in an entryway, a spot to display potted plants, or a pantry organizer for overflow.
—Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Apr. 2026
Verb
If the state treasury is overflowing, Democratic lawmakers tend to spend freely, expanding programs and creating new ones.
—Los Angeles Times, 18 May 2026
Is your closet overflowing with clothing, accessories, and items galore?
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for overflow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overflow
Noun
-
In addition to deterring unwanted visitors or critters, these flood lights have also become popular among pet owners for another purpose.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
16 May 2026
-
The easing of export regulations came just as Argentina’s beef production dropped by more than 10 percent due to floods and droughts, according to CICCRA, the nonprofit organization that represents Argentina’s beef producers.—
Clara Preve,
Fortune,
16 May 2026
Noun
-
Newsom then proposes spending that $10 billion in the next year’s budget, according to the LAO report — in essence, making a quick deposit to carry some of this year’s surplus over for next year’s budget.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
19 May 2026
-
By linking their grids, member states can share domestic surpluses in real time.—
Ken Silverstein,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
Verb
-
Designers were clever enough to install a series of waterfalls that spill into the pool to cover up traffic noise from the pool’s location.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
14 May 2026
-
This disaster serves as a cautionary tale and comes as the kingdom is facing further uncertainty caused by the war in Iran, a conflict that has spilled over to other countries in the region.—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
Nine years after being engulfed in scandal, Eric’s rebranded nonprofit hosts an ever-expanding lineup of fundraisers, spending more than $500,000 a year.—
Dan Alexander,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
-
Aerial footage of the Sandy Fire showed a structure engulfed in flames.—
Chelsea Hylton,
CBS News,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
Researchers believe huge quantities of groundwater likely burst onto the surface in a series of catastrophic floods that surged downhill and rapidly carved the waterworn valleys visible today.—
Samantha Mathewson,
Space.com,
15 May 2026
-
But Donald used that size mismatch to his advantage, leveraging an unprecedented first step and incredible agility to burst past linemen and attack the offense.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
When a team drafted some linebacker from Appalachian State in the fifth round, Kiper could offer a torrent of assessment.—
Dan Greene,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
-
The president eventually took down the post after facing a torrent of criticism from people across the political sphere.—
Siladitya Ray,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
Temperatures in excess of 82 degrees Fahrenheit are considered ideal conditions for tropical storm or hurricane development.—
Marshall Shepherd,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
-
These morality tales, focusing on figures like Michael Milken and Ivan Boesky, make an implicit claim that individual avarice somehow explains the excesses of an entire era.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Is there some sort of algorithm at play here where if the truck is on half-full, someone will overfill the truck and U-Haul will get some sort of financial advantage?—
Joe Kinsey OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
18 May 2026
-
Tame Your Brows Don’t overfill them — just brush them up.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Miami Herald,
15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overflow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overflow. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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