over·run
ˌō-vər-ˈrən 
ˌō-və-
overran
ˌō-vər-ˈran
ˌō-və-
; overrun; overrunning
1
a(1)
: to defeat decisively and occupy the positions of
(2)
: to invade and occupy or ravage
b
: to spread or swarm over : infest
2
a
: to run or go beyond or past
the plane overran the runway
b
: exceed
overrun a budget
c
: to readjust (set type) by shifting letters or words from one line into another
3
: to flow over
the river overran its banks
over·run
ˈō-vər-ˌrən
ˈō-və-
1
: an act or instance of overrunning
especially
: an exceeding of the costs estimated in a contract for development and manufacture of new equipment
2
: the amount by which something overruns
3
: a run in excess of the quantity ordered by a customer
Synonyms
Examples of overrun in a Sentence
Verb
The tank divisions overran the countryside.
The city was being overrun by enemy troops.
The plane overran the runway.
His speech overran the time allowed.
Recent Examples on the Web
Alex De Waal, Foreign Affairs, 17 June 2024
Adventures is ostensibly a loose retelling of the events of the first entry in the series, Horizon Zero Dawn, which depicts a post-apocalyptic world overrun by robotic wildlife where tribes of humans are in a state of perpetual conflict until Aloy (voiced by Ashly Burch), arises as a new messiah.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 13 June 2024
John Timmer, Ars Technica, 21 June 2024
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission hasn’t yet approved the design, and the company will have to overcome the inevitable delays and cost overruns that have doomed countless nuclear projects before.
—Brad Plumer Benjamin Rasmussen, New York Times, 11 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for overrun 
Verb
On top of this, in November, the RSF overran the breadbasket region of El Gezira, south of the capital, ransacking farms, food mills, and the region’s agricultural university.
—Alex De Waal, Foreign Affairs, 17 June 2024
Adventures is ostensibly a loose retelling of the events of the first entry in the series, Horizon Zero Dawn, which depicts a post-apocalyptic world overrun by robotic wildlife where tribes of humans are in a state of perpetual conflict until Aloy (voiced by Ashly Burch), arises as a new messiah.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 13 June 2024
Noun
The delays and cost overruns have helped make nuclear one of the most expensive generating sources, roughly similar to offshore wind.
—John Timmer, Ars Technica, 21 June 2024
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission hasn’t yet approved the design, and the company will have to overcome the inevitable delays and cost overruns that have doomed countless nuclear projects before.
—Brad Plumer Benjamin Rasmussen, New York Times, 11 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for overrun
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'overrun.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near overrun
Cite this Entry
“Overrun.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overrun. Accessed 4 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
overrun
1 of 2 verb
over·run
ˌō-və(r)-ˈrən
overran
-ˈran
; overrun; overrunning
; overrun; overrunning
1
a
: to invade and occupy
the island was overrun by the enemy
b
: to spread, swarm, or grow over
a garden overrun with weeds
rats overran the ship
2
: to run or go beyond or past
overran third base
the program overran the time allowed
3
: flow over
the river overran its banks
overrun
2 of 2 noun
over·run
ˈō-və(r)-ˌrən
1
: an act or instance of overrunning
2
: the amount by which something overruns
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share