# overrun

/ˈoʊvɝˌɹən/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/overrun
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. to swarm or infest

verb · CEFR B2

to fill or spread over a place in large numbers, often in an annoying or harmful way.

For teachers: to spread over or occupy a place in large numbers; frequently used in the context of pests, weeds, or invading forces.

- The old garden was completely overrun with weeds after months of neglect.
- By mid-summer, the abandoned warehouse had been overrun by rodents, necessitating a professional intervention to secure the site.

### 2. to exceed a limit

verb · CEFR B2

to go past a set limit, such as a time or a budget.

For teachers: to exceed a predetermined limit, especially regarding time, budget, or scheduled duration.

- The meeting was supposed to end at noon, but it overran by twenty minutes.
- The construction project overran its original budget by nearly thirty percent due to unforeseen structural issues in the foundation.

### 3. an excess amount

noun · CEFR B2

the amount by which something goes over its limit.

For teachers: an instance or amount of exceeding a limit, typically in a financial or temporal context.

- The government had to explain the massive cost overrun on the new bridge.
- Despite strict oversight, the project suffered a significant time overrun, pushing the launch date into the following fiscal year.

### 4. aviation safety zone

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

an area at the end of a runway where a plane can stop safely if it goes too far.

For teachers: a cleared area of terrain beyond the end of a runway designed to allow an aircraft to decelerate safely in the event of an aborted takeoff or landing roll.

- The pilot managed to stop the plane in the overrun area without any injuries.
- Airport regulations require the overrun to be kept clear of all obstacles to ensure maximum safety during emergency braking maneuvers.

### 5. food production

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

the air that is mixed into ice cream to make it light and soft.

For teachers: the increase in volume of a frozen dessert caused by the incorporation of air during the freezing process.

- Cheap ice cream often has a high overrun, making it feel very light and airy.
- Premium gelato is characterized by a low overrun, resulting in a denser texture and more intense flavor profile than standard commercial ice cream.

## Examples

- The project suffered a massive cost overrun.
- The construction of the new stadium faced a two-year schedule overrun due to unexpected soil issues.
- While minor delays are expected in large-scale infrastructure, a significant budget overrun can lead to political scrutiny and the immediate suspension of secondary contracts.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.