brimful

Brimful is an English adjective used to describe something that is full to the brim, or completely filled to the top. It can refer to physical objects, such as a brimful cup, as well as to figurative fullness, such as a brimful of hope or brimful with excitement. The term often carries a slightly formal or literary tone and is more common in British English than in everyday American usage, where phrases like “full to the brim” are more frequently heard.

Etymology and form: Brimful is formed from brim, meaning the upper edge or rim, plus the suffix -ful, meaning “full of.” The word has historical usage in English and appears in poetry and prose, where a vivid, concentrated sense of fullness is desired.

Usage notes: Brimful can describe a container that is literally overflowing or nearly at capacity, as in “the teapot was brimful of tea.” It is also used figuratively: “the room was brimful of laughter” or “her pockets were brimful of coins.” In some contexts, speakers may prefer “brimming” or “full to the brim” for smoother everyday speech.

Cultural references: The phrase gained additional recognition through the 1997 song “Brimful of Asha” by the British group Cornershop, a title that uses brimful in a personal, lyrical sense.

See also: brim, full, fullness, brimming. Brimful remains a stylistically marked choice, substituting effectively for more common expressions when a precise, emphatic sense of fullness is desired.