Basic Details
Word: Overflowing
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: So full that the contents spill over the edges. It can also mean having a great deal of something, such as joy.
Synonyms: brimming, teeming, bursting
Antonyms: empty
How to Spell Overflowing
Syllables: o - ver - flow - ing
Tricky part: Flow ends in w, and ing goes straight on with nothing added or taken away. Students write overfloing or overflowwing.
Watch out for: overfloing, overflowwing, ovaflowing
Memory tip: Water that flows over the top is overflowing. Keep the w of flow, then add ing.
Usage Examples
Example 1: The dustbin was overflowing after the festival.
Example 2: After three days of rain, the drains were overflowing onto the road.
Example 3: Her heart was overflowing with pride at her brother's graduation.
Fun Fact
Many washbasins have a small hole near the rim called an overflow, which drains water away before it can spill onto the floor.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word overflowing as used in the sentence:
The library's shelves were overflowing with new books after the donation drive.
a) crammed
b) packed
c) brimming
d) empty
Show answer
d) empty. Brimming, crammed and packed all describe full shelves; empty is the reverse.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the letters in the sentence to form a meaningful word:
The river was ofivlgnrwoe its banks after the dam gates were opened.
a) overgrowing
b) overlooking
c) overpowering
d) overflowing
Show answer
d) overflowing. There is an f and a w in the jumble, and overflowing is the only option that uses both.
Word Cookie
Fill in the missing letters to complete the word:
ov_rfl_wing
a) e, a
b) e, o
c) a, o
d) i, o
Show answer
b) e, o. The word is over and flow joined, so an e goes in over and an o in flow.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. If a stadium is overflowing with fans, ____.
a) half the seats are free
b) there is no room left
c) the fans have gone home
d) the match is cancelled
Show answer
b) there is no room left
2. Which of these could be described as overflowing?
a) a dry well in the summer
b) a bucket left under a running tap
c) an empty water bottle
d) a cup with one sip in it
Show answer
b) a bucket left under a running tap
