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Glite Dictionary
🎉 To finish with extra 🥤 To fill completely
to top off

to top off

5 3.6
Fill something to the top until it almost overflows
  • phrasal verb
  • /tɑp ɔf/
  • Informal
translation icon : llenar
  • Maybe once every six or seven months you'll have to top off the nitrogen supply.
  • top off the tank
  • topped off our glasses
  • top off the fuel

Examples

  • "I'll get it." She topped off Dotty's coffee and returned the carafes to their heaters.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • Reflexively, she topped off my mug of coffee.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • You go ahead, I'll just top off our drinks.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • If they have gas, we could top off the tank and refill our cans.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • AJ topped off their glasses again.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • I joined him as he topped off our oxygen tanks from the sled's auxiliary tank.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • With carafes in either hand, she topped off coffees down the row of booths, then worked her way along the counter.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • The Fearless left Skagway with her quarters stocked with gear and her fuel tanks topped off with diesel oil.

    Fiction book (1996)

  • We need to top off the tank before we hit the road to avoid running out of gas.

  • At the party, I will top off everyone's glasses before serving dessert.

Synonyms

to fill
vsto top off
∞ 1.0

To make a place full by putting people or things into it

is more specific, focusing on filling almost to overflowing rather than general fullness
to brim
vsto top off
23 3.7

To be full to the top, often with a strong feeling

is about filling almost to overflowing rather than emotional or exact fullness
to fill up
vsto top off
19 1.8

Make something have no empty space or cause a strong feeling in someone

aims to reach near overflow rather than simply making something full
to fill to the brim
vsto top off
5 2.7

To make something so full that nothing else can fit

is to fill nearly to overflowing rather than completely full
to top up
vsto top off
3 3.2

To fill something again or add money to an account until full

describes filling almost to overflowing rather than refilling to a set level

Antonyms

to empty
179 1.0

To remove everything from a container or place

How Full

to overfill
3 3.9
to top off
  • Informal
5 3.6
to fill
∞ 1.0
to pour
588 1.0
to add
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

top off infinitive
topped off past
topped off past participle
topping off present participle
tops off third person singular

Morphology

top + off

The meaning 'to bring to a satisfying conclusion by adding something extra' is directly derivable from combining 'top' (to add a final detail or reach the highest point) with the particle 'off' functioning as a completive/finishing marker in verb+particle constructions. This verb+particle pattern is common and predictable in English, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents and basic phrasal-verb patterns can infer the sense.

Etymology

The verb top off comes from the image of pouring a drink or fuel until it reaches the top of a glass or tank and then giving a small final pour, with the off as that last bit. That's why it means 'to fill something to the top or almost overflowing'.