overboard
OH-vuh-bawd
Overboard (adv) means Over the side of a boat and into the water. Example: “A crate slid off the deck and went overboard during the storm.”
adv
1
Over the side of a boat and into the water.
"It was their practice to throw the scraps overboard."
"A crate slid off the deck and went overboard during the storm."
"Afore we got to the shanty Colonel Applegate stuck his head out of the door. His temper had been getting raggeder all the time, and the sousing he got when he fell overboard had just about ripped what was left of it to ravellings."
— Joseph Crosby Lincoln (1913)
2
To an excessive extreme (usually in the phrase "go overboard").
"She went overboard buying decorations for the party."
How to use overboard
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishOff the side of a boat into the water, or figuratively, taking something too far.
Common pairings
fall overboard
go overboard
man overboard
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- overboards
- Past tense
- overboarded
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A crate slid off the deck and went _____ during the storm.
Etymology
From over- + board (as in the side of a ship).
Rhymes for overboard
board
hoard
aboard
onboard
keyboard
cupboard
outboard
seaboard
backboard
starboard
cardboard
surfboard
See all rhymes for overboard →
Frequently asked questions
What does “overboard” mean?
The word “overboard” means over the side of a boat and into the water. In plain terms, off the side of a boat into the water, or figuratively, taking something too far.
How do you pronounce “overboard”?
“Overboard” is pronounced OH-vuh-bawd (/ˈəʊvə(ɹ)ˌbɔː(ɹ)d/ in IPA).
How do you use “overboard” in a sentence?
Here is “overboard” used in a sentence: “A crate slid off the deck and went overboard during the storm.”
What part of speech is “overboard”?
“Overboard” is an adverb.
Is “overboard” a common word?
“Overboard” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “overboard” have?
“Overboard” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: over the side of a boat and into the water.
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