overfill

verb

over·​fill ˌō-vər-ˈfil How to pronounce overfill (audio)
overfilled; overfilling; overfills

intransitive verb

: to become full to overflowing

Examples of overfill in a Sentence

He overfilled the pail and the water spilled out. overfilled the wheelbarrow with bricks until finally no one could push it
Recent Examples on the Web That day, another noisy flow of magma left the sill and overfilled the dike. Robin George Andrews, Quanta Magazine, 20 Feb. 2024 When using a regular blender, work in batches and don’t overfill. Robin Miller, The Arizona Republic, 19 Jan. 2024 Jump Jet Now restores 50% of Hover Jets fuel and can briefly overfill the maximum fuel amount. Kris Holt, Forbes, 12 Feb. 2024 Despite a single photo these days being enough to overfill a floppy disk, various industries—like embroidery, medical devices, avionics, and plastic molding—still rely on them. Jon Brodkin, Ars Technica, 30 Jan. 2024 Then, in 2020, when OSIRIS-REx collected its sample from Bennu, the spacecraft overfilled its collection chamber. Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, 24 Sep. 2023 AeroPress with the stainless filter and stock cap will fill then overfill the vessel beneath it, not the brewing chamber. Joe Ray, WIRED, 29 Nov. 2023 This service ensures that my wardrobe consistently appears fresh without the worry of overfilling my New York City apartment's limited closet space. Alexandra Domrongchai, Travel + Leisure, 2 Nov. 2023 Don't leave flammable items like oven mitts and wooden spoons right next to your slow cooker, and follow manufacturer instructions to avoid overfilling the insert. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 15 Sep. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'overfill.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of overfill was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near overfill

Cite this Entry

“Overfill.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overfill. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

overfill

verb
over·​fill ˌō-vər-ˈfil How to pronounce overfill (audio)
: to fill to overflowing

More from Merriam-Webster on overfill

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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