overrunning

USAGE SUMMARY

'overrunning' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when something is exceeding its bounds or limits, when it has not been appropriately or timely handled. For example; "The project is overrunning the proposed deadline by two days."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He added: "I'm deeply sorry for the delays, upset and upheaval caused today to passengers impacted by our overrunning improvement work outside King's Cross.

The Guardian - Business

Network Rail's chief executive has refused to say whether he will take a bonus this year as he promised to publish an internal inquiry into Christmas rail chaos caused by overrunning engineering work.

The Guardian - Business

Paul Emberley, a spokesman for East Coast Trains, said: "Network Rail has apologised to passengers for the inevitable delays to their travel plans on Saturday as a result of the overrunning engineering works.

The Guardian - Business

The warning came as thousands of passengers suffered major disruptions to their journeys as all trains into and out of London's King's Cross were cancelled on Saturday due to overrunning engineering works.

The Guardian - Business

Paul Emberley, a spokesman for the train operator East Coast, said: "Network Rail has apologised to passengers for the inevitable delays to their travel plans on Saturday as a result of the overrunning engineering works.

The Guardian

Network Rail bosses have defended the decision to send thousands of passengers to an "entirely unsuitable" station after overrunning Christmas engineering works caused King's Cross station to be closed.

The Guardian - Business

The ORR could, as it has previously, fine Network Rail for overrunning engineering work but customers could end up footing the bill through increased rail fares.

The Guardian - Business

The Office of Rail Regulation will launch an investigation into serious travel disruption caused by overrunning engineering works in London, which led to services to and from two major stations being cancelled and chaotic overcrowding at a local station to which some trains were re-routed.

The Guardian - Business

The media accused Jewish asylum seekers of "overrunning the country".

The Guardian

Her defiance does not necessarily improve her position.Before the Tigers launched their latest offensive in April, overrunning Elephant Pass, the link between the peninsula and the rest of Sri Lanka, prospects for a settlement were brightening.

The Economist

Now he sees biotechnology-based intensive farming as crucial to keeping farms from overrunning forests.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing projects or events that are taking longer than planned, use "overrunning" to clearly indicate the extension beyond the original timeline.

Common error

Avoid using "overrunning" in passive constructions where the actor is unclear. Specify what is causing the overrun for clarity and impact.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "overrunning" is as a present participle or gerund of the verb 'overrun'. It's often used to describe an action in progress or a state of being that exceeds a limit or boundary. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Encyclopedias

32%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Science

4%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "overrunning" functions primarily as a present participle or gerund to describe something exceeding its intended limits, such as a project exceeding its budget or a military force invading territory. As Ludwig AI confirms, the word is grammatically correct and widely used. Analysis of usage patterns reveals its prevalence in News & Media and Encyclopedias, indicating a neutral to professional register. When using "overrunning", ensure clarity by specifying what is causing the overrun and avoid passive constructions. Alternative phrases such as "encroaching upon" or "invading" may be appropriate depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

invading

Emphasizes a forceful and hostile entry into a territory or space, often with military connotations.

sweeping across

Implies rapid and widespread movement through an area, often suggesting a lack of resistance.

running rampant

Highlights uncontrolled or unrestrained spread or activity, often with a negative connotation.

encroaching upon

Focuses on the gradual intrusion or advancement into someone else's territory or rights; implies a more subtle takeover than "overrunning".

breaching boundaries

Stresses the violation of established limits or borders, often implying a negative consequence.

infesting

Suggests a troublesome presence, especially of pests or unwanted elements, dominating an area.

surpassing limits

Indicates going beyond established restrictions or boundaries, with a focus on the act of exceeding.

overwhelming

Indicates a situation where something is too powerful or abundant to be resisted.

exceeding capacity

Highlights the state of surpassing a limit or maximum, often in a quantifiable sense.

spilling over

Conveys the idea of something overflowing or extending beyond its container or boundaries.

FAQs

How can I use "overrunning" in a sentence?

You can use "overrunning" to describe something that exceeds its planned limits, such as "The construction project is "overrunning" its budget" or "The battle resulted in the enemy "overrunning" our defenses".

What are some alternatives to "overrunning"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "encroaching upon", "invading", or "exceeding capacity".

Is it correct to say "the project is overrunning" or "the project is being overrun"?

Both can be correct, but they have slightly different meanings. "The project is "overrunning"" implies that the project itself is actively exceeding its limits. "The project is being overrun" suggests an external force is causing it to exceed its limits.

What's the difference between "overrunning" and "overshooting"?

"Overrunning" generally refers to exceeding a time or budget limit, whereas "overshooting" often refers to going beyond a physical target or estimate.