Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
🌊 To overflow 🏙️ People moving out 💧 Too much liquid
overspill

overspill

5.7
A flow of water or other liquid over the edge of a container
  • noun
  • /ˈoʊvərˌspɪl/
  • UK
translation icon : desbordamiento
  • The heavy rain caused an overspill from the river onto the nearby fields.

Examples

  • Engineers installed barriers to control the overspill from the reservoir during storms.

  • The overspill from the cup made a mess on the table.

  • A sudden overspill of water flooded the basement after the tank was filled too quickly.

  • Don't let the overspill ruin the party!

  • After the heavy rainfall, there was an overspill from the river that flooded the nearby fields.

  • The overspill from the cup made a mess on the kitchen counter.

  • To prevent an overspill during the filling process, ensure the container is not too full.

Synonyms

spill
vsoverspill
103 1.0

An accidental flow of liquid from a container

is the broader situation of excess liquid going beyond limits, not just accidents
runoff
vsoverspill
  • US
26 3.8

Water that flows over land after rain because the ground cannot absorb it

is about excess in any place, not only surface flow after rain
overflow
vsoverspill
21 3.2

An event when water or other things flow over the edge of a container

is a situation caused by too much liquid rather than only the event

Antonyms

containment
27 6.1

Keeping something harmful under control so it does not spread

retention
23 4.2

Keeping something so you still have it

How Full

flood
286 1.0
overspill
  • UK
5.7
spill
103 1.0
drip
44 1.0

Surface Forms

overspill singular
overspills plural

Morphology

overspill = spill (transparent) = over + spill

The meaning is clearly derived from 'spill' with the prefix 'over' indicating excess.

Etymology

Overspill comes from the parts over- meaning 'too much' or 'above' and spill meaning 'to flow out', so picture water running over the top of a container. So an overspill is when liquid goes beyond its limits.