Word
overflow
Phoneticsover·flow
/ˈoʊvɝˌfɫoʊ/
Definitions
01to spill over
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to flow over the edge of a container because it is too full.
v. to flow over the brim or edge of a container or channel. Ambitransitive — can be used with or without a direct object.
“The bathtub started to overflow because I forgot to turn off the water.”
“Heavy rainfall caused the river to overflow its banks, flooding the nearby farmland for the third time this decade.”
02to be very full
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to be so full of something that it cannot hold any more.
v. to be filled beyond capacity, often used figuratively with emotions or crowds.
“The small classroom was overflowing with students on the first day.”
“Her heart was overflowing with gratitude as she accepted the award in front of her colleagues and family.”
Synonyms
03extra amount
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. an amount of something that is too much for a space to hold.
n. the amount of something that exceeds the capacity of a container or system.
“The hotel had to find a room for the overflow of guests from the wedding.”
“The city struggled to manage the overflow of traffic during the construction of the new bridge.”
04an escape pipe
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Technical
n. a pipe or opening that lets extra liquid flow away safely.
n. an outlet or pipe through which excess liquid may emerge or be diverted to prevent damage.
“Check the overflow on the sink to make sure it isn't blocked.”
“The engineer inspected the secondary overflow to ensure that the reservoir would not breach during the spring thaw.”
05computing error
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Computing Technical
n. a mistake that happens when a computer tries to handle a number that is too big.
n. the condition that occurs when a calculation produces a result that exceeds the capacity of the register or storage location.
“The program crashed because of a buffer overflow error.”
“A stack overflow can occur if a recursive function calls itself too many times without reaching a base case.”
Antonyms
Real-World Examples
“During Saturday's Mass, the Pope told worshippers that Catholics should not keep their faith to themselves but "let it overflow so that those you meet may be refreshed".” “The letters he wrote to far-flung friends in those years overflow with longing, in language eerily like what he used to describe his proof.” “France’s attacking ranks may overflow with quality, but for a player with magic in both boots, that seemed odd.” Etymology
From Middle English overflowen, from Old English oferflōwan, equivalent to over- + flow.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
01. to overflowing
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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