overflowing

6 definitions • 10 examples

present participle of

When a liquid overflows, it flows over the edges of a container, etc. because there is too much of it:

The milk overflowed when I poured it into the jug.

Because of heavy rain, the river may overflow its banks.

If a container or a place overflows, whatever is inside it starts coming out because it is too full:

Oh no, the sink is overflowing all over the floor.

The bin was overflowing with rubbish.

When a place overflows, or people or things overflow from somewhere, some people or things have to come out because it cannot contain them all:

The bar was so full that people were overflowing into/onto the street.

His room is overflowing with books.

UK The train was full to overflowing (= so full that there was not space for any more passengers).

so that water or another substance is almost coming over the top:

Someone had filled the sink to overflowing.

If you overflow with thoughts or feelings, you express them strongly:

They were overflowing with emotion at the birth of their baby.

Suddenly, her anger overflowed.