Meanings
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1
verb
to spread over or fill a place in uncontrolled or excessive numbers
Without regular pruning, ivy will overrun the garden wall.
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2
verb
to invade, defeat, and occupy a place or position
The advancing army overran the border forts within two days.
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3
verb
to continue beyond an allotted limit of time, cost, or space
The meeting may overrun its scheduled hour.
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4
noun
an amount produced, spent, or used beyond what was planned
A printing overrun left the publisher with five hundred extra copies.
Thesaurus
Etymology
From over- + run, continuing an Old English compound pattern. The earliest senses concern running or ranging across a place; military occupation, uncontrolled spreading, and exceeding a planned limit all develop from the image of passing beyond a boundary.