overflow

Word parts

over- + flow

Pronunciation

• (UK) enPR: ō-və-flōʹ, IPA ^(key): /ˌəʊvəˈfləʊ/
• (US) enPR: ō-vər-flōʹ, IPA ^(key): /ˌoʊvɚˈfloʊ/

• Audio (UK)

  (file)

Verb

Plain form overflow

Third-person singular overflows

Past tense overflowed

Past participle overflowed

Present participle overflowing

1. If something overflows, it submerges the brim of the container.

   The bucket is now wider so the event of an overflow is unlikely.

   She quickly filled the ice tea glasses to one inch below the rim so the glasses would not overflow.