What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
overtopping
Example
The river is overtopping the dam due to heavy rainfall. [overtopping: verb]
Example
The crowd's excitement was overtopping the stadium. [overtopping: gerund or present participle]
overflow
Example
The sink overflowed with bubbles from the dish soap. [overflow: verb]
Example
The company's profits were overflowing due to the success of their new product. [overflowing: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Overflow is more commonly used than overtopping in everyday language. Overflow is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while overtopping is less common and refers to a more specific situation.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between overtopping and overflow?
While overtopping is typically associated with a technical or specialized tone, overflow is more versatile and can be employed in various formality levels, allowing it to be used in both formal and informal contexts.
