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overfull

overfull

1 5.5
Contains more goods than people want to buy
  • adjective
  • /ˌoʊvərˈfʊl/
translation icon : sobrecargado
  • The quality of this new life does reinforce my long-held practice of paring down and aiming for days that are not overfull or cluttered.

Examples

  • The stadium was so overfull that many fans had to stand on the sidelines.

  • When Ribic compiles a page of eight panels, it seems tight and almost overfull, but the panels themselves are lavished with detail and depth, each and every one a miniature masterpiece to be studied and enjoyed.

    Blog text (21)
  • As much as I would love to get into this discussion, today, unfortunately, I have an overfull plate in front of me.

    Blog text (28)
  • When your bookshelves are stacked and overfull, it gives the image that you don't have enough space.

    Blog text (2)
  • The restaurant was overfull, with customers waiting for hours to be seated.

  • During the holiday season, the supermarket became overfull with shoppers buying gifts and groceries.

Synonyms

overcrowded
vsoverfull
18 3.1

Too many people or things in a place so it feels uncomfortable

is about market supply exceeding demand not crowding of people
to overflowing with
vsoverfull
15 2.9

Full of a lot of something, often too much

is focused on supply excess and market imbalance not physical fullness
overstocked
vsoverfull
1 3.9

A place that has more goods than it can sell

is the general situation of supply exceeding demand rather than just stored goods
overabundant
vsoverfull
1 5.8

More than is needed or wanted

is specific to supply exceeding demand in a market or situation
overladen
vsoverfull
1 7.0

Carrying more weight or things than it can safely hold

describes excess supply in markets rather than heavy physical burden
glutted
vsoverfull
6.3

Having more of something than people need or can buy

is the broad market condition where supply exceeds demand
overbought
vsoverfull
  • Specialized
6.7

Items bought in larger amounts than needed so extra stock remains

is about excess supply in markets rather than focusing on purchase action
overcapacity
vsoverfull
5.1

Containing more people than a building or room was made to hold

is about excess supply rather than surpassing built capacity

Antonyms

447 2.8

Enough to do what is needed

How Full

glutted
6.3
overfull
1 5.5
full
1.0
sufficient
447 2.8
scarce
103 4.8

Surface Forms

overfull positive

Morphology

overfull = full (transparent) = over + full + over

The meaning is directly derived from the productive prefix 'over-' (excessive) applied to the adjective 'full'; learners who know 'over' and 'full' can infer the sense.

Etymology

Overfull combines over- meaning 'too much' and full meaning 'completely filled', so picture a cup filled past the top and starting to spill over. That's why an overfull market or storage has more goods than people want and goes beyond its limit.