French word

déborder

Pronunciation

IPA/debɔʁde/

Meaning

  • verboverflow

Example

Après la fête, la boîte déborde de cadeaux.

After the party, the box overflows with gifts.

Illustration for déborder (overflow)

More examples

Elle déborde d'enthousiasme.

She overflows with enthusiasm.

Core concept

Contents press past a container's rim and spread beyond its boundary.

Common phrases

  • déborde de cadeaux

    overflows with gifts

  • déborde de monde

    overflows with people

  • déborde d'émotion

    overflows with emotion

Similar words

verser: To pour liquid into a container.
dépasser: To exceed a set limit or amount.
renverser: To knock over a container, causing its contents to spill.

Definition in French

Déborder veut dire qu'une quantité dépasse la capacité d'un contenant ou d'une limite, provoquant une sortie ou une diffusion vers l'extérieur.

Word origin

Déborder comes from Old French desborder, formed from des- meaning 'away from' and bord meaning 'edge', with the sense of passing beyond an edge.

Usage tips

  • With contents, déborder de means 'overflow with', while déborder sur means 'spill over onto' or 'extend into' another area.

Other meanings

  • stick outverb
  • be full of ___verb

Opposites

Related words

  • débordementoverflownoun
  • débordéoverflowingadjective
  • débordantoverflowingadjective

Word lists with this word