CEFR B2

overrun

verb

Meaning

Spread over or occupy a place in such large numbers that it becomes a nuisance or is no longer manageable.

Examples

The island was overrun by rats after the ship sank.
Our kitchen was overrun with ants during the heatwave.

Synonyms: infest, invade, overwhelm, swamp

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overrun (B2)

verb

Pronunciation: ˌoʊvərˈrʌn

Definition

Spread over or occupy a place in such large numbers that it becomes a nuisance or is no longer manageable.

Examples

The island was overrun by rats after the ship sank.
Our kitchen was overrun with ants during the heatwave.
The protesters had overrun the main square by noon.

How to Use overrun

overrun by (prepositional phrase): passive construction indicating the agent of the invasion. — "The city was overrun by enemy troops."
overrun with (prepositional phrase): describing a place full of something unwanted. — "The basement is overrun with spiders."

Synonyms of overrun

Words with a similar meaning to overrun:

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