Standard Lemma guide

overboard

adj · adv · verb · 7 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ˈəʊvə(ɹ)ˌbɔː(ɹ)d/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: OW1 V ER0 B AO2 R D Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Outside of a boat; in the water.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

Topics: nautical, transport

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adv

Meaning 2

Over the edge; especially, off or outside of a boat.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

Examples

  • It was their practice to throw the scraps overboard.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adv

Meaning 3

Excessively; too much.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

Examples

  • They really went overboard with the party preparations.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To throw over the edge of a boat into the water.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

To cover (a ceiling) with plasterboard to create a new surface.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

adverb

Meaning 6

from on board a vessel into the water

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • they dropped their garbage overboard

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

adverb

Meaning 7

to extremes

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • he went overboard to please his in-laws

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From Middle English overbord, overborde, equivalent to over- + board.

Across languages

Translations

14 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: извън борда (izvǎn borda) — over the edge, off a boat
  • Danish: over bord — over the edge, off a boat
  • Dutch: overboord — over the edge, off a boat
  • French: par-dessus bord — over the edge, off a boat
  • German: über Bord — over the edge, off a boat
  • Norwegian Bokmål: over bord — over the edge, off a boat
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: over bord — over the edge, off a boat
  • Portuguese: borda a fora — over the edge, off a boat
  • Portuguese: exceder — over the edge, off a boat
  • Russian: за́ борт (zá bort) — over the edge, off a boat
  • Russian: за бо́ртом (za bórtom) — over the edge, off a boat
  • Russian: за борто́м (za bortóm) — over the edge, off a boat
  • Swedish: överbord — over the edge, off a boat
  • Swedish: över bord — over the edge, off a boat
Real reading context

overboard in complete knowledge articles

Man Overboard (Man Overboard album) Arts & music · Developing · 9 uses HMS Grenada (1804) Ideas & learning · Developing · 5 uses The Slave Dancer Literature & books · Developing · 3 uses Centennial (pilot boat) History & culture · Accessible · 2 uses HMS Arab (1795) People & society · Accessible · 1 uses Joseph N. Lord Science & nature · Accessible · 1 uses Mary A. Williams History & culture · Accessible · 1 uses SS Irwell Technology & inventions · Developing · 1 uses