overfill

overfill — verb

  • overfillpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • overfills3rd person singular
  • overfilling-ing form
  • overfilledpast simple

1. to put so much of a substance or collection of items into a container, vehicle,

1.動詞及物B2
釋義

to put so much of a substance or collection of items into a container, vehicle, or space that it cannot hold any more and the excess spills, sticks out, or cannot be contained.

例句

Liam overfilled the bathtub and water poured onto the bathroom floor.

overfill + container (bathtub) + resulting spill

Marta overfilled her cup with coffee, leaving a brown puddle on the counter.

overfill + object + with + substance

同義詞
  • flood

    stronger and more dramatic; suggests a large amount of liquid spreading everywhere

  • clog

    focuses on blockage rather than overflow; used for pipes and drains

  • overload

    used for weight or capacity limits, not just liquids; common with electrical systems and work

反義詞
  • empty

    to remove the contents of a container

  • drain

    to remove liquid from a container

文法句型

overfill + object

overfill + object + with + substance

用法筆記

The object is always a container, space, or vehicle — never the substance itself. You overfill the cup, not the water.

常見錯誤

❌I overfilled the water in the glass.
✅I overfilled the glass with water.
💡'overfill' takes the container as its object, not the contents.

2. When a container, space, or area becomes so full that its contents begin to spil

2.動詞不及物B2
釋義

When a container, space, or area becomes so full that its contents begin to spill or spread beyond where they are meant to stay.

例句

The bathtub overfilled while Dario was talking on the phone to his mother.

intransitive use; container + unintended situation

Mizuki's cup overfilled when she poured tea without looking at it.

同義詞
  • overflow

    the more common synonym; 'overfill' emphasises the state of being too full, while 'overflow' emphasises the liquid spilling out

  • brim over

    phrasal verb; slightly more literary; suggests a gentle, visible fullness

  • spill over

    focuses on the movement of the contents leaving the container

反義詞
  • empty

    to become empty

  • drain

    to lose liquid gradually until empty

文法句型

subject + overfill

subject + overfill + with + contents

用法筆記

The subject is the container itself. No direct object follows. Often describes an accidental or unintended situation.

常見錯誤

❌I overfilled the water bottle to overflow.
✅The water bottle overfilled.
💡sense 2 is intransitive — the container is the subject.