overflowing 1 of 2

adjective

1
as in teeming

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2
as in overloaded

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overflowing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of overflow
1
as in spilling
to flow over the brim or top of while the wine steward stood there gawking at the nearby celebrity, my expensive champagne was overflowing its glass and pouring onto our table

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2
as in flooding
to cover with a flood the swollen river overflowed the surrounding land and washed several houses away

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3
as in bursting
to be copiously supplied a magazine that usually overflows with home-repair tips for the do-it-yourselfer

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of overflowing
Adjective
So there Wilson went toward the overflowing Aces’ bench. — Ben Pickman, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025 And Zermatt itself also has pockets of traditional charm, with streets lined with chalet after chalet and overflowing flower boxes. — Rick Steves, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026 The more unexpected takeaway was the show's graphic depiction of an overflowing toilet as the climax of the episode, which was set on Thanksgiving Day. — Carson Blackwelder, People.com, 26 Aug. 2025 In the suburban village of Wauwatosa, an overflowing and fast-moving Menomonee River submerged a popular playground. — Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 11 Aug. 2025 One of Cash’s interests, carried over from Earth Angel, her 2023 debut book of short stories, is an overflowing index of animal references. — Niela Orr, Vulture, 13 Jan. 2026 JPMorgan has even needed to lease additional space to facilitate staffers’ return, renting several floors in the former Credit Suisse office close to the US lender’s overflowing European headquarters. — Jack Sidders, Fortune, 27 Nov. 2025
Verb
Garbage trucks can't get down the alley, and trash is now overflowing. — Charlie De Mar, CBS News, 25 June 2026 The final tear drawn from the once overflowing beaker. — Literary Hub, 19 June 2026 Watch as all the people around you slowly queue up bumper-to-bumper with their enormous rollie bags in the overflowing elevator bank. — Liz Zack, Travel + Leisure, 29 June 2026 Luckily for me, though, Amazon is overflowing with cool-girl sneakers that are posh and trendy, but still practical and versatile for everyday wear. — Alyssa Morin, InStyle, 2 July 2026 The locker room is not only overflowing with players just joining the Dolphins franchise, but with players new to the NFL stage. — Ava Dicecca, Sun Sentinel, 18 June 2026 This can minimize cooling efficiency by making the unit work harder to bypass the clog, cause water damage from an overflowing drain pan, and even trigger respiratory issues from mold and mildew growth. — Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 21 June 2026 Prime Day 2026 is overflowing with thousands of deals, and hidden within the seemingly countless fashion markdowns are wireless bras for up to 69 percent off. — Rylee Johnston, PEOPLE, 25 June 2026 The Fabtotes Storage Bags 6-Pack is another popular pick that’s ideal for storing seasonal clothes, and this over-the-door purse organizer is a genius solution to a closet that’s overflowing with handbags. — Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overflowing
  1. teeming
  2. overloaded
  3. spilling
  4. flooding
  5. bursting
  6. crowded
  7. inflated
  8. overfilling
Adjective
  • The new findings are confounding scientists’ expectations, raising questions about how exactly molecules can encounter their reactive partners in a teeming, crowded space — and therefore how cells can possibly function.
    — Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 18 Feb. 2026
Definition of teeming
Adjective
  • This shows up in overloaded slides with way too much content.
    — William Arruda, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • Swollen or tender nodes at the neck, armpits or groin signal an overloaded filter.
    — Allison Palmer, Charlotte Observer, 29 June 2026
Definition of overloaded
Verb
  • But labor strife here is spilling off of the docks and into City Hall, with political implications for Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, himself a former labor organizer who is expected to run for reelection in less than a year.
    — Talia Soglin, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
  • Investigators said the confrontation began inside the gas station before spilling into the parking lot, where shots were fired.
    — Bradford Betz, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2026
Definition of spilling
Verb
  • News of his death – one example of the political violence roiling America in recent years – quickly went global, with graphic videos flooding social media and politicians on both sides of the aisle swiftly condemning the killing.
    — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
  • Bailey Allen After the fireworks ended there was a mass exodus of guests leaving the Esplanade and flooding the streets of downtown Boston.
    — Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 4 July 2026
Definition of flooding
Verb
  • But with the righty and the Yankees donning stars and stripes themed jerseys, bombs began bursting in the humid Bronx air shortly after Saturday’s game began.
    — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 4 July 2026
  • Behind them, downtown streets filled with supporters waving banners and fireworks bursting overhead—a pre-match spectacle Toronto had never experienced.
    — Shelby Blackley, New York Times, 4 July 2026
Definition of bursting
Adjective
  • While alcohol, crowded waterways and heavy holiday traffic all contribute to an increase in emergency calls, fireworks generate the largest share of responses, according to authorities.
    — Andrew Graham July 3, Sacbee.com, 3 July 2026
  • Your personal life could feel crowded, unpredictable and emotionally overwhelming, Scorpio.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026
Definition of crowded
Adjective
  • Simón, who undertook a similar odyssey at the same age, never allows this delicate story to succumb to self-indulgence or an inflated sense of its own importance.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
  • As Jackson County legislators consider whether to implement a tax credit program to homeowners who paid inflated property tax bills in 2023, county homeowners and organizations are split on who should bear the cost.
    — Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 1 July 2026
Definition of inflated
Verb
  • Some fails stem from people overfilling the molds.
    — Lisa Gutierrez April 3, Kansas City Star, 3 Apr. 2026
  • To reduce ice crystal formation and freezer burn, use airtight packaging and avoid overfilling the freezer so air can circulate properly.
    — Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 31 Jan. 2026
Definition of overfilling

Browse Nearby Words

overflowed
overflowing
overflows
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Cite this Entry

“Overflowing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overflowing. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on overflowing

Nglish: Translation of overflowing for Spanish Speakers

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