Definition

Adjective 1. Completely full; filled to the very top or edge. - Describes a container or space that is so full that any more would cause it to overflow. 2. Abundantly supplied or filled with a quality, emotion, or thing. - Describes a person or thing that is overflowing with a particular feeling, energy, or substance.

Usage

The adjective "brimful" is used to describe a state of absolute fullness. It is often followed by the preposition "of" to specify what something is full with. - It typically modifies nouns like cup, glass, room, heart, or eyes. - It can describe both literal, physical fullness and figurative, emotional fullness.

Examples

• Literal Fullness:
  • She handed me a brimful cup of coffee.
  • The storage bins were brimful of harvested grain.
• Figurative Fullness:
  • He was brimful of confidence before the presentation.
  • Her letter was brimful of affection and good advice.

Advanced Usage

• "brimful of": This is the standard construction to indicate the contents.
  • The report was brimful of useful data.
  • The old house was brimful of memories.
• "brimful to the brim": A redundant but sometimes used emphatic phrase for extra emphasis on completeness.
  • The barrel was brimful to the brim with rainwater.

Variants and Related Words

• Brim (verb): To be full to the point of overflowing.
  • Her eyes brimmed with tears.
• Brimming (adjective/present participle): Overflowing, full to the brim.
  • a brimming bucket; a heart brimming with joy.
• Brimless (adjective): Lacking a brim (e.g., a hat). This is an antonym in form but not in meaning related to fullness.

Synonyms

• Full to the brim
• Overflowing
• Bursting
• Crammed
• Teeming (especially with living things)

Antonyms

• Empty
• Devoid
• Bare

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Brimming over with: Very full of an emotion or quality, often to the point of being visibly evident.
  • The children were brimming over with excitement on the last day of school.
• Full to the brim: Completely full. (This phrase is the basis for the adjective "brimful").
  • The stadium was full to the brim with cheering fans.

Adjective

1. filled to capacity
   • a brimful cup
   • I am brimful of chowder
   • a child brimming over with curiosity
   • eyes brimming with tears