Word
overboard
Phoneticsover·board
US/ˈoʊvɝˌbɔɹd/
UK/ˌəʊvəbˈɔːd/
Adverb of place
Definitions
01into the water
B2 · Upper Intermediate Sports
adv. over the side of a boat and into the water.
adv. over the side of a ship or boat into the surrounding water.
“The rough waves caused several boxes to fall overboard during the storm.”
“The safety drill requires all crew members to know exactly what to do if a passenger accidentally falls overboard in open water.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
02too much
B2 · Upper Intermediate Informal
adv. to do something too much or with too much energy.
adv. to act with excessive enthusiasm or to take a situation to an extreme.
“I think I went overboard with the decorations for the party.”
“While it is important to be thorough, you should avoid going overboard with technical details that might confuse the client.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
03to add plasterboard
C2 · Proficiency Technical · British English
v. to put a new layer of board over an old ceiling or wall.
v. to apply a new layer of plasterboard over an existing surface, typically a ceiling, to create a smooth finish.
“The builder decided to overboard the old ceiling instead of removing it.”
“If the original lath and plaster is sagging, the most efficient solution is often to overboard the ceiling before applying a final skim coat.”
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“The newspaper profiled cases where sailors on the ship expressed suicidal ideation or attempted to jump overboard.” “Operator CalMac said a passenger was reported overboard on the MV Caledonian Isles 16:40 service, carrying 329 people from Brodick on the Isle of Arran.” “Politicians voiced alarm over mental health struggles on carrier, with reports of sailors attempting to jump overboard.” Etymology
From Middle English overbord, overborde, equivalent to over- + board.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
01. go overboard
02. throw overboard
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/overboard