overflow

USAGE SUMMARY

'overflow' is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it to describe an abundance of something, or an excess that exceeds its container. Example sentence: The river overflowed its banks and flooded the nearby fields.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

The Economist - Travel

The Guardian - Travel

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We sat in the dark, and watched our private hot-tub overflow.

The Guardian - Travel

The most obvious dangers to favela residents include" health risks from the overflow of inadequate sewage systems; an outbreak of dengue fever in the city from mosquitoes that breed in standing water; and the high risk, due to the tightly packed wooden constructions, of fire.

The Guardian

Before an overflow crowd of more than 1,000, Holder joined Kansas Governor Sam Brownback and several religious leaders at an interfaith memorial service at the Jewish Community Center, the site of one of two shootings that stunned the city on the eve of Passover.

The Guardian

An hour before the speaking began every seat in the theatre was filled and thousands of people unable to get even to the doors were directed to an overflow meeting at the Kingsway Hall.

The Guardian

"We used all our overflow cots," he said.

The Guardian

The dancefloors at clubs like the Pratersauna (Waldsteingartenstrasse 135, 1020; pratersauna.tv) and Fluc, with its bunkeresque and altogether more anarchic downstairs space, Fluc Wanne (Praterstern 5, 1020; fluc.at), overflow with hedonistic crowds of beat-seeking twentysomethings.

The Guardian - Travel

Moore said: "A high number of escalation beds [emergency overflow beds] are in use and we are, unfortunately, having to postpone some elective operations.

The Guardian

Opened by Catholic Charities as a way to centralise relief efforts when the bus station began to overflow with migrants, the shelter was supposed to be a temporary response to last summer's crisis.

The Guardian

There is a third community school in the area to cope with the Olwelai overflow, but one with a less happy story to tell.

The Guardian

So many people descended on St James's Park, next to Buckingham Palace, to watch the concert on a big screen that police officers declared the park full and diverted the overflow to Hyde Park.

The Guardian - Music

A member of staff who was, like others, reluctant to comment, nodded when asked about overcrowding and said: "It's just an overflow situation".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "overflow" in technical contexts like software development, ensure clarity about whether you're discussing a buffer overflow, integer overflow, or another specific type of overflow error. Be specific about the kind of overflow you are referring to.

Common error

Avoid confusing "overflow", which means to exceed capacity or spill over, with "overlook", which means to fail to notice something. For example, instead of saying "The team overflowed a crucial detail", say "The team overlooked a crucial detail".

Linguistic Context

The word "overflow" functions as both a verb and a noun. As a verb, it describes the action of exceeding capacity. As a noun, it refers to the excess or spillage resulting from this action. Ludwig AI confirms its appropriate usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "overflow" is a versatile term used as both a verb and a noun to describe exceeding capacity or abundance. Ludwig AI confirms its validity in various contexts. It is frequently found in "News & Media" and formal writing but maintains a neutral register suitable for diverse applications. When using "overflow", ensure clear context, especially in technical domains. Consider alternatives like "brim over", "run over", or "spill over" for nuanced meaning. Avoid confusing it with similar-sounding words such as "overlook". Overall, "overflow" is a reliable and widely understood term in English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

brim over

Focuses on the state of being full to the point of almost overflowing; emphasizes emotional or figurative abundance.

spill over

Highlights the act of something exceeding its container and spreading outwards.

run over

Implies exceeding a boundary or limit, often in a physical sense, like liquid spilling.

exceed capacity

Directly refers to surpassing the maximum limit or ability to contain something.

flood

Refers to a large quantity of something arriving rapidly and overwhelming.

be inundated

Describes being overwhelmed with a large amount of something, similar to being flooded.

teem with

Indicates being full of something, often living creatures or activity.

overabundance

Highlights the excessive quantity of something.

superabundance

Like overabundance, emphasizes a very high degree of abundance.

surge

Focuses on a sudden and powerful increase or rush of something.

FAQs

How to use "overflow" in a sentence?

You can use "overflow" to describe a container exceeding its capacity, like "The river overflowed its banks". It can also describe a state of abundance, such as "The city overflowed with tourists during the summer festival".

What can I say instead of "overflow"?

You can use alternatives like "brim over", "run over", or "spill over" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "overflow" or "over flow"?

"Overflow" is the correct spelling as one word. "Over flow" is not standard usage.

What's the difference between "overflow" and "flood"?

"Overflow" implies exceeding a container's capacity, while "flood" refers to a large-scale inundation. For example, a sink might "overflow", leading to a room being "flood".