brim
1 Americannoun
-
the upper edge of anything hollow; rim; brink.
the brim of a cup.
-
a projecting edge.
the brim of a hat.
verb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
noun
noun
-
the upper rim of a vessel
the brim of a cup
-
a projecting rim or edge
the brim of a hat
-
the brink or edge of something
verb
Synonym Usage
See rim.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
brimsimple
-
brimssimple
-
have brimmedperfect
-
has brimmedperfect
-
am brimmingprogressive
-
are brimmingprogressive
-
is brimmingprogressive
-
have been brimmingperfect progressive
-
has been brimmingperfect progressive
Past
-
brimmedsimple
-
had brimmedperfect
-
was brimmingprogressive
-
were brimmingprogressive
-
had been brimmingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of brim
First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English brimme “brink, rim” (earlier, “shore, bank”); apparently akin to Middle High German brem, ( German Bräme ), Old Norse barmr “rim, edge”
Explanation
The brim is the top of a container, like the edge of a cup. Also, if a cup is brimming, it’s full. This word has a couple meanings related to fullness. If a cup is full, it’s filled to the brim. The brim is the top. Containers such as buckets and pitchers have brims too. Also, the bucket is brimming if it's totally full. A brimming container is likely to spill. People can brim too: you can be brimming with enthusiasm or happiness. Like a cup about to spill, you can’t quite contain yourself when you’re brimming with joy.
Vocabulary lists containing brim
"The Crucible" -- Vocabulary from all 4 Acts
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"The Crucible" -- Vocabulary from Act 2
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"Birches" by Robert Frost
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Leinster, a side full to the brim of Irish internationals, did not have an answer as Bordeaux romped to a 41-19 victory in Bilbao to become only the sixth side to retain their European crown.
From BBC ● May 23, 2026
Meanwhile, songs like “Down South” brim with nostalgia for days gone by — in this instance, memories of a hitchhiking jaunt with Harrison.
From Salon ● May 12, 2026
The result is storage facilities that are full to the brim.
From Barron's ● Mar. 13, 2026
All three sections brim with short essays on various plant species such as rose, clover, iris, violet, daisy and lily of the valley, which Dior fashioned into silhouettes and blossoming decorative surfaces.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 21, 2025
Up I swung and lit in his brim.
From "Secrets at Sea" by Richard Peck
Each frame is meticulously constructed; every beat of the script brims with passion.
From Salon ● Jun. 22, 2026
Mr. Mikhail’s book brims with details of their lives.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 19, 2026
Another reviewer says the film brims with "more rage than it knows what to do with".
From BBC ● Mar. 24, 2026
The result is a gentle book that brims with wisdom and accessible philosophy.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 19, 2025
They too wore dark glasses, their hats were set high upon their heads, the brims turned down.
From "Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison
And social media brimmed with foreign fans admiring the US way of life.
From Barron's ● Jul. 7, 2026
The three Graham works I caught brimmed with powerful physicality.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 9, 2026
Inside the reunion, the atmosphere brimmed with nostalgia as Romano and the show’s creator, Phil Rosenthal, hosted the live taping from the living room they once brought into millions of households each week.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 24, 2025
On the outskirts of Nairobi, Kenya's capital, many areas that once brimmed with arabica have been paved over for housing estates or shopping malls.
From Salon ● Jul. 24, 2024
I hadn’t realized the moisture in my eyes had brimmed over.
From "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer
But dig deeper, and one will find that Tyler’s discography is brimming with hits that put her unmistakable rasp to thrilling use.
From Salon ● Jul. 9, 2026
Sharp, fearless and brimming with confidence, Lamine Yamal drifted past defenders with ease and injected life into Spain's attack.
From BBC ● Jun. 21, 2026
Many of the old tree sitters — white-haired and brimming with stories of Bari — have come out of the woodwork for the latest battle.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 10, 2026
The first quarter is peak for the gym industry, as potential new members are brimming with fitness-focused New Year’s resolutions.
From MarketWatch ● May 8, 2026
And yes, it was my father, triumphant, laughing, happy, brimming with news of Narrow Squeaks.
From "Homesick" by Jean Fritz
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
