overrun

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "overrun" is correct and is commonly used in written English.
It usually means to overrun a place, a situation, or an object with too many people or things. Example sentence: "The small store was quickly overrun by the crowds of eager shoppers."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Business

Travel

Film

Books

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A Department for Transport spokesman said: "It is extremely disappointing that Network Rail's engineering works have overrun and will affect travellers during this festive season, passengers will be rightly annoyed.

The Guardian - Business

These were the precursors to the juggernaut now known simply as the Islamic State, which has, under Bagdhadi's command, overrun much of the west and centre of the country and eastern Syria, and drawn the US military back to a deeply destabilised region less than three years after it left vowing never to return.

The Guardian

Related: GPs are exhausted, A&E is overrun and hospitals are broke.

The Guardian

Part of it stems from a belief that Britain has been overrun with the "wrong" immigrants, such as welfare tourists who come here for child benefit and jobseeker's allowance, not to help our economy to grow.

The Guardian - Opinion

If one of the sides were overwhelmingly stronger, they would overrun the other's positions.

The Guardian

It was just after midnight soon after Real Madrid had beaten Elche thanks to a ludicrous late penalty and Spain's national police force were overrun with people reporting a robbery, so they responded with a tweet: "We've had over 120 mentions about football in the last 10 minutes.

The Guardian - Sport

Then I get the option of going to Highpool, a town that's being overrun by a gang, or the Ag Center, which is trying to get the desert to produce food again.

The Guardian - Tech

All Saturday's trains in and out of King's Cross, one of the busiest station's in London, have been cancelled because engineering work on the east coast mainline has overrun.

The Guardian

The inquiry heard services in the territory are overrun and under-resourced, with one Darwin refuge having turned away 211 families in the last six months alone – more than it took in.

The Guardian

Despite the lead Bayern's defence still looked on the verge of being overrun, which it duly was eight minutes later.

The Guardian - Sport

When the second world war came, Kurów was overrun by the Russians.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "overrun" to describe a project or schedule, consider specifying the amount or extent to which it has exceeded its limits for clarity. For example, "The project overran by two weeks".

Common error

Avoid using "overrun" when you mean something else is causing something to be delayed or exceeded. The city might be "overrun" by tourists, but the project isn't "overrun" by the team; it's simply "delayed" or "over budget" by them.

Linguistic Context

The term "overrun" primarily functions as a verb, signifying exceeding limits, invading, or extending beyond established boundaries. As shown in Ludwig, it describes exceeding limits in time, budget, or physical space. For example, an engineering project may "overrun" its deadline.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Sport

12%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Travel

4%

Film

4%

Books

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "overrun" is a versatile verb indicating exceeding limits or invading a space. Ludwig AI confirms its correct grammatical usage. It frequently appears in News & Media and Sport contexts, often denoting situations exceeding planned or expected boundaries. When using "overrun", ensure clarity by specifying the extent of the excess or the specific context of the invasion. Avoid passive voice confusion, and consider synonyms like "invade", "exceed", or "overwhelm" for nuanced meaning. The term is neither overly formal nor informal, making it suitable for diverse writing styles. Be aware that approximately 44% of its uses are found in News & Media sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

invade

Focuses specifically on the hostile entry and occupation aspect.

overwhelm

Highlights the feeling of being inundated and unable to cope.

infest

Implies the presence of something undesirable in large numbers.

exceed

Focuses on surpassing a limit or expectation.

spill over

Emphasizes the idea of something overflowing or extending beyond its boundaries.

go beyond

Indicates surpassing limitations or expected boundaries.

brim over

Suggests fullness and the potential for overflowing.

overtake

Focuses on surpassing something or someone in speed or progress.

flood

Emphasizes the aspect of being covered or filled with an excessive amount of something.

overstretch

Indicates exceeding available resources or capacity.

FAQs

How can I use "overrun" in a sentence?

You can use "overrun" to describe a place invaded by an enemy, like "The town was "overrun by" soldiers". Or, it can mean exceeding a time limit, as in "The meeting "overran by" an hour".

What's a synonym for "overrun"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "overrun" include "invade", "exceed", "overwhelm", or "infest".

Is it correct to say a place is "overrun by" something?

Yes, the phrase ""overrun by"" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe a place being invaded or crowded with something, such as "The beaches were "overrun by" tourists".

What is the difference between "overrun" and "overflow"?

"Overrun" often suggests exceeding a limit or invading a space, whereas "overflow" primarily indicates that something is spilling over its container. For example, a river might "overflow" its banks, while a city might be "overrun by" tourists.