# bottled

/ˈbɑtəɫd/ (US) · /bˈɒtəld/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/bottled
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. in a container

adjective · CEFR A2

sold or kept in a bottle rather than a can or a glass.

For teachers: contained or sold in a bottle. Often used to distinguish beverages from those served on tap or in cans.

- We ordered three bottles of sparkling water for the table.
- The restaurant offers an extensive selection of bottled craft beers, though most patrons prefer the local varieties available on draught.

### 2. hidden feelings

adjective · CEFR B2

describes feelings or energy that you keep inside and do not show to others.

For teachers: held in restraint or suppressed; almost exclusively used in the phrasal construction 'bottled up'.

- He had a lot of bottled anger that he finally expressed during the meeting.
- Years of bottled resentment finally surfaced during the mediation, complicating the negotiations between the two former partners.

Usage: Commonly occurs in the phrase 'bottled up'.

### 4. drunk

adjective · CEFR C1 · Slang · Informal

a slang word for being very drunk.

For teachers: intoxicated by alcohol. This sense is highly informal and specific to certain regional dialects.

- They looked completely bottled after the party ended at midnight.
- The group arrived at the late-night diner looking thoroughly bottled, much to the annoyance of the other quiet patrons.

Teaching tip: This sense is relatively rare and informal; learners should use 'drunk' or 'intoxicated' in most contexts.

## Examples

- He felt bottled up after the meeting.
- She stayed bottled up during the argument, which made her partner feel confused and frustrated.
- The pressure of keeping his grief bottled up for months finally caused him to break down in front of his colleagues.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.