Word
brim
US/ˈbɹɪm/
UK/bɹˈɪm/
Countable noun
Definition
n. the top edge of a container like a cup or bowl, or the wide part of a hat that shades your face.
n. the upper edge or lip of a cup, bowl, or similar vessel; also refers to the projecting rim of a hat.
Examples
“She filled the glass to the brim with water.”
“The wide brim of his straw hat protected his neck from the harsh afternoon sun while he worked in the garden.”
“Rainwater collected in the rusted barrel until it reached the brim, eventually spilling over to create a muddy pool on the workshop floor.”
Examples
simple
“She filled the glass to the brim with water.”
contextual
“The wide brim of his straw hat protected his neck from the harsh afternoon sun while he worked in the garden.”
complex
“Rainwater collected in the rusted barrel until it reached the brim, eventually spilling over to create a muddy pool on the workshop floor.”
Usage
Often used in the prepositional phrase 'to the brim' to indicate a container is completely full.
Real-World Examples
“Then we get a closeup of Eve’s eyes brimming with tears of wretchedness and fear.” “It is large and full to the brim with life.” Etymology
The noun is derived from Middle English brem, brim, brimme (“bank, edge, or margin of a lake or river; shore of a sea; brink; rim”); from Old English brim (“sea, surf, or the edge of the sea or a body of water”), from Proto-Germanic brimą (“turbulence, surge; surf, sea”), from Proto-Germanic bremaną (“to roar”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰrem- (“to hum, make a noise”). The verb is derived from the noun. cognates * Bavarian Bräm (“border, stripe”) * Danish bræmme (“border, edge, brim”) * German Bräme, Brame (“border, edge”) * Swedish bräm (“border, edge”) * Icelandic barmur (“edge, verge, brink”)
A variant of bream.
The verb is derived from Middle English brimmen (“of pigs: to be in heat or rut; to breed; to bear fruit”), either: modified from brem, breme (“of animals: ferocious, savage; of fire, the sea, a storm, etc.: raging, severe, tempestuous; glorious, splendid; etc.”, adjective) (whence modern English breme (“(obsolete) fierce, stormy, tempestuous”)), from Old English brēme (“(poetic) glorious; famous, renowned”), from Proto-West Germanic brōmi, from Proto-Germanic *brōmiz (“famous”); or directly from Old English bremman (“to rage; to roar”) (though not attested in Middle English), from Proto-Germanic bramjaną, *bremaną (“to roar”); both from Proto-Indo-European *bʰrem- (“to make noise”). The noun is derived from Middle English brim, from the verb: see above.
A variant of breme.
Clipping of brimstone (“sulphur; (figurative) a domineering, scolding woman”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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