Word
overflowing
Phoneticsover·flow·ing
US/ˈoʊvɝˌfɫoʊɪŋ/
UK/ˌəʊvəflˈəʊɪŋ/
Definitions
01spilling over the edges
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. so full that the liquid or objects inside are falling out over the top.
adj. exceeding the capacity of a container such that the contents spill over the brim.
“He tried to carry the overflowing bucket of water without making a mess.”
“The city struggled to manage the overflowing rubbish bins after the three-day music festival concluded in the park.”
02full of emotion
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. having a very strong feeling that you cannot easily hide.
adj. characterised by an intense abundance of a particular emotion or quality.
“She greeted her old friend with an overflowing sense of joy.”
“The speaker’s voice was overflowing with gratitude as he thanked the volunteers for their tireless dedication to the cause.”
Real-World Examples
“Researchers put 17 of the frames captured through mid-August into sequence, forming a time-lapse video that shows lava filling a smaller, inner caldera, then overflowing into a wider crater before widening into a fan.” Etymology
From overflow + -ing
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
01. to overflowing
- 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
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/overflowing