Definition

1. Verb (past tense of ):
   • To spread over or occupy in large numbers: "overran" describes a situation where something, often pests, people, or forces, spreads over an area in overwhelming numbers.
   • To exceed a time or cost limit: "overran" means to go beyond an expected or allowed limit, such as a schedule or budget.
   • To invade and devastate: In a military or destructive context, "overran" means to conquer or overwhelm an area by force.

Usage Examples

• To spread over or occupy in large numbers:

  • The garden was overran by weeds during the rainy season. (Weeds spread across and covered the entire garden.)
  • Rats overran the old warehouse, making it unusable. (Rats occupied the warehouse in huge numbers.)

• To exceed a time or cost limit:

  • The project overran its budget by $50,000. (The project spent more money than planned.)
  • The meeting overran its scheduled time by thirty minutes. (The meeting lasted longer than intended.)

• To invade and devastate:

  • The enemy forces overran the village in a single night. (The enemy invaded and destroyed the village.)
  • The barbarians overran the Roman outpost, leaving nothing behind. (The barbarians conquered and devastated the outpost.)

Advanced Usage

• "overran with something": to be filled or covered excessively by something.

  • The kitchen was overran with ants after the spill. (The kitchen had an overwhelming number of ants.)

• "overran the mark": to exceed an intended limit or boundary.

  • The runner overran the finish line due to momentum. (The runner passed beyond the finish line unintentionally.)

Word Variants and Related Words

• Overrun (verb, present tense): to spread over, exceed, or invade.

  • The weeds overrun the garden every summer. (Weeds spread across the garden annually.)

• Overrun (noun): an instance of exceeding a limit or a large number of something.

  • The cost overrun was due to unexpected expenses. (The excess cost was caused by unforeseen factors.)

• Overrunning (adjective): describing something that is spreading or exceeding.

  • The overrunning costs forced the company to cut back. (The excessive costs required budget reductions.)

Synonyms

• Inundated: overwhelmed by a large amount or number.

  • The town was inundated with tourists during the festival. (The town was flooded with tourists.)

• Exceeded: went beyond a limit.

  • The budget exceeded expectations. (The budget went over what was planned.)

• Swarmed: moved in a large, crowded group.

  • Bees swarmed the hive. (Bees crowded around the hive in large numbers.)

Related Idioms

• Overrun like a plague: to spread rapidly and destructively.

  • The false rumors overran the community like a plague. (The rumors spread quickly and caused harm.)

• Overrun the clock: to use more time than allowed.

  • The speaker overran the clock and had to be cut off. (The speaker used more time than the limit.)