Overflow
/ˌoʊvərˈfloʊ/
Definitions
3 meaningsTo exceed the capacity or limits of something, causing an excess to spill over.
/ˌoʊvərˈfloʊ/
To be so full that the contents spill over.
The bathtub overflowed because I left the water running.
💡 Simply: Think of a cup of water that's so full, it starts spilling over the sides. That's overflow! Like when a bathtub has too much water, or your computer's memory can't hold all the information.
👶 For kids: When something is so full that it spills over, like when your glass of juice is filled too high!
More Examples
My inbox overflows with emails every day.
The charity experienced an overflow of donations after the disaster.
How It's Used
"The river overflowed its banks after the heavy rain."
"The program overflowed due to a large input."
An amount or quantity that is more than can be contained; the act of overflowing.
/ˈoʊvərfloʊ/
An instance of overflowing; the excess that spills over.
The overflow from the river flooded the fields.
💡 Simply: It's the extra stuff that spills over when something is too full. Imagine your cereal bowl when you put too much milk in it. The extra milk that goes over the side is the overflow!
👶 For kids: The extra stuff that comes out when something is too full, like when your juice spills over the side of your glass.
More Examples
We are expecting an overflow of orders this holiday season.
The system detected an overflow error and shut down.
How It's Used
"The dam was built to prevent the overflow of the river during floods."
"An integer overflow can cause unexpected results."
More than a container or system can hold or process; having an excess.
/ˈoʊvərfloʊ/
Having more contents or capacity than is needed or that a container can hold.
The stadium had overflow seating for the championship game.
💡 Simply: Like having more of something than you can handle. Think of a store with *overflow* inventory, more than they can display.
👶 For kids: Like when you have too much of something and it can't all fit.
More Examples
The company rented an overflow warehouse to store excess inventory.
The server experienced overflow traffic during peak hours.
How It's Used
"The concert venue had overflow parking available due to high demand."
Synonyms
Idioms & expressions
overflowing with
To be filled or abundant with something.
"Her heart was overflowing with joy."
From Middle English 'overflōwen,' from Old English 'oferflōwan' (to flow over), from 'ofer-' (over) + 'flōwan' (to flow).
The word 'overflow' has been used since the 13th century to describe the physical act of flowing over. Its use in abstract senses, such as exceeding capacity, developed later.
Memory tip
Imagine a cup of water filling to the brim and then spilling over. That's overflow!