WordGarden.iooverfill
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /ˌəʊvəfˈɪl/
US
- /ˈoʊvərˌfɪl/
Meanings
Verb
to fill something beyond its capacity or intended level
Beyond the definition
Imagine pouring water into a glass. If you keep going past the brim, you have overfilled it, and the water spills onto the table. That is the basic idea. To overfill something means to put more into it than it can hold. This is often literal, like a bathtub, a bottle, or a trash bag. It can also be used in a broader way. You might overfill your schedule with too many plans, leaving yourself tired and stressed. Sometimes people do it on purpose, like when a baker slightly overfills a muffin cup to get a fuller top.
Think of it as pushing something past its limit. A container, a room, or a plan can all be overfilled. The idea is that there is more inside than is practical, safe, or easy to manage.
To overfill means to go beyond the capacity of something. Most often, that means putting too much into a physical container or space, but it can also describe a plan or schedule that has been packed too tightly. The word suggests that a limit has been passed, often causing spillage, crowding, waste, or trouble.
In literal use, you can overfill a gas tank, a cup, a storage bin, or a washing machine. This usually creates a problem. If heavy rain overfills gutters, water may spill over and damage a building. If you overfill your plate at a buffet, you take more food than you can comfortably eat. A room, bus, or train may also be described as overfilled when there are too many people inside.
In a broader, figurative use, overfill can describe something that has been given too much to hold or handle. A person might overfill their calendar with meetings. A teacher might overfill a lesson with too many activities. These examples keep the same core idea: more has been added than fits well.
Sometimes the word is neutral or even slightly positive when the extra amount is intentional. A baker may overfill cupcake liners to get a higher top, even though the amount still goes beyond the usual level. Even then, the sense of exceeding normal capacity remains.
So, whether it is a glass, a machine, a room, or a schedule, overfill describes the act of putting in more than can be held well. It usually carries the idea of excess and often hints at an unwanted result.
Examples
- 1
Cooking
Don't overfill the pan, or the soup will spill when it starts to boil.
- 2
Laundry
She overfilled the washing machine with towels, so the clothes did not rinse properly.
- 3
Safety device
This valve stops the tank from overfilling.
- 4
Planning
I try not to overfill my calendar during exam week.
- Phraseoverfill your calendar
plan too many things for the time you have
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Writing style
The report feels overfilled with minor details.
- Patternoverfilled with + details/information
containing so much that it becomes hard to use or understand
See also
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- overfillverb