What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
teeming
Example
The city streets were teeming with tourists during the summer season. [teeming: verb]
Example
The forest was teeming with wildlife, from birds to deer. [teeming: adjective]
overflowing
Example
The river was overflowing its banks after the heavy rain. [overflowing: verb]
Example
The basket was overflowing with fresh fruits and vegetables. [overflowing: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Overflowing is more commonly used than teeming in everyday language. Overflowing is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while teeming is less common and refers to a specific type of abundance.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between teeming and overflowing?
Both teeming and overflowing are relatively formal words and may not be commonly used in casual conversation. However, overflowing may be more versatile and can be used in various formality levels, while teeming may be more limited in its usage.
