WordGarden.iobrimful
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /brˈɪmfəl/
US
Meanings
Adjective
completely full, especially to the top or with a feeling or quality
Beyond the definition
Imagine a glass filled right to the top—not just full, but so full that any extra drop would spill over. That's what "brimful" means! It describes something completely and abundantly full, often with an emotional or figurative sense of fullness reaching its absolute limit. A heart can be brimful of joy, a life brimful of experiences, or a basket brimful of apples.
It's more than just physically full; it suggests a richness and completeness. Think of a summer day brimful of sunshine, or a story brimful of adventure. It's a lovely word that evokes a sense of plenty and overflowing goodness. You might say someone is "brimful of enthusiasm," meaning they have an enormous, infectious amount of it!
"Brimful" describes something filled to the very edge, to the point where even the slightest addition would cause it to overflow. While often used literally—a cup brimful of tea, a well brimful of water—it frequently carries a figurative meaning, suggesting an abundance not just of physical contents but also of emotions, experiences, or qualities.
Think about a life lived fully: you might describe it as "brimful of memories." Or consider someone deeply moved by good news—their heart could be "brimful of happiness." The image is one of completeness and overflowing richness. It's not simply full; it is often perceived as bursting with whatever it contains.
The word evokes a sense of satisfaction and plenty, as if something has reached its fullest natural capacity. A garden in full bloom might be described as "brimful of color," or a concert hall "brimful of energy." Historically, "brim" refers to the upper edge of a container, so "brimful" literally means filled to that edge. Today, it is frequently used to paint a picture of something overflowing with life, emotion, or abundance—a beautiful image of fullness at the top of its range. So, next time you encounter something truly abundant, remember "brimful." It's more than just full; it's gloriously and wonderfully overflowing.
Examples
- 1
Food container
The bowl was brimful of soup.
- 2
Workshop
By the end of the workshop, everyone was brimful of ideas.
- 3
Performance
She stepped onto the stage brimful of confidence.
- 4
Family home
The house was brimful of laughter when the children arrived home.
See also
Similar
- full
- filled to the brim
- overflowing
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- brimful of
- brimful of confidence
- brimful of ideas
- brimful of life
Word family
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Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- brimfuladjective