brim

1 of 2

noun

ˈbrim 

1

a(1)

: an upper or outer margin : verge

(2)

archaic : the upper surface of a body of water

b

: the edge or rim of a hollow vessel, a natural depression, or a cavity

2

: the projecting rim of a hat

brimless

ˈbrim-ləs 

adjective

brim

2 of 2

verb

brimmed; brimming

transitive verb

: to fill to the brim

intransitive verb

1

: to be or become full often to overflowing

eyes brimming with tears

2

: to reach or overflow a brim

Synonyms

Noun

• border
• borderline
• bound
• boundary
• circumference
• compass
• confines
• edge
• edging
• end
• frame
• fringe
• hem
• margin
• perimeter
• periphery
• rim
• skirt
• skirting
• verge

Verb

• abound
• bristle
• bulge
• burst
• bustle
• buzz
• crawl
• hum
• overflow
• pullulate
• swarm
• teem

Examples of brim in a Sentence

Noun

the brim of the teacup was banded with gold

touched the brim of his cap by way of salute

Verb

Her heart was brimming with happiness.

The show brims with excitement.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Underneath the wide brim of his tan cowboy hat, there is a bit of a playful flicker in his eyes at all times. —Rebecca Angel Baer, Southern Living, 20 Mar. 2025

My favorites tend to possess a large brim that falls in gentle folds around my face, covering my now shorter and remorselessly thinning hair and quite sensitively shadowing the varied assaults of time on my complexion. —Judith Viorst, Allure, 1 Apr. 2025

Verb

Conventional wisdom suggests that healthcare is brimming with corporate antibodies, eager to destroy new ideas. —Stephen Wunker, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025

The booth will be brimming with displays of California native plants provided by the Theodore Payne Foundation, along with handouts in English and Spanish about how to create fire-resilient landscapes using native plants and how to avoid and/or replace invasive (and highly combustible) plants. —Jeanette Marantos, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English brimme; akin to Middle High German brem edge

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Verb

1598, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Phrases Containing brim

• brim with tears
• filled/full to the brim
• snap-brim
• to the brim

Rhymes for brim

• clim
• dim
• grim
• gym
• him
• hymn
• im
• limb
• mim
• prim
• rim
• scrim

Kids Definition

brim

1 of 2 noun

ˈbrim 

1

: the edge or rim of something hollow (as a container)

full to the brim

2

: the part of a hat that sticks out around the lower edge

brimful

-ˈfu̇l

adjective

brimless

-ləs 

adjective

brimmed adjective

brim

2 of 2 verb

brimmed; brimming

: to be or become full to overflowing

brimming with happiness

eyes brimming with tears

boats brimming with tourists