verb
overrun
oh-vuh-RUHN
verb
1
To spread over or invade a place in large numbers, often taking full control of it.
"The garden was completely overrun with weeds."
"Enemy forces overran the border town within days."
2
To go on for longer than planned.
"The meeting overran by almost an hour."
noun
1
An amount by which something has gone beyond its planned budget, time, or capacity.
"The project suffered a huge cost overrun."
How to Use Overrun
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo spread over something uncontrollably, or to go on past a planned limit (of time, cost, etc).
Common pairings
cost overrun
overrun with
overrun by weeds
Word Forms
overran past tense, overrun past tense, overruns plural, overruns singular
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The garden was completely _____ with weeds.
Etymology
Built from over- + run.