teem
C1Formal/Literary
Definition
Meaning
To be full of or swarming with something, especially living things.
To pour out or fall abundantly, as in rain; to be extremely abundant.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often used with the preposition 'with'. Can describe places teeming with life or activities, and also used for heavy rain.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning, but 'teem down' for rain is more common in British English.
Connotations
In both variants, it conveys abundance; in American English, it might be slightly more associated with natural environments.
Frequency
Equally rare in both variants, with similar frequency in written texts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
teem with NPteem down (as in rain)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “come teeming down”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rarely used; might appear in descriptive reports about market activity or crowded events.
Academic
Common in biological or ecological contexts to describe ecosystems teeming with species.
Everyday
Uncommon; used descriptively for crowded places like cities or events.
Technical
In meteorology, to describe heavy rainfall teeming down.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The woodland teems with birds in the morning.
- After the downpour, the gutters teemed with water.
American English
- The downtown area teems with pedestrians at rush hour.
- In spring, the fields teem with wildflowers.
adjective
British English
- The teeming rain made the pavements slippery.
- She avoided the teeming high street during sales.
American English
- They cancelled the picnic due to teeming showers.
- The teeming marketplace was overwhelming.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The playground teems with children after school.
- In summer, the beach teems with tourists.
- The riverbank teems with fish during spawning season.
- During the concert, the stadium teemed with fans.
- The startup hub teems with innovative ideas and young entrepreneurs.
- Historical sites often teem with visitors from around the world.
- Metropolitan areas teem with socioeconomic diversity and constant change.
- The rainforest canopy teems with undiscovered species, prompting ongoing research.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'team' that's so full of players it teems with energy.
Conceptual Metaphor
ABUNDANCE IS A CONTAINER OVERFLOWING
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не путать с 'team' (команда) из-за схожего звучания.
- Прямой перевод 'кишеть' может не подходить для всех контекстов, например, для дождя.
Common Mistakes
- Omitting 'with' after 'teem' (e.g., incorrect: 'The place teems life')
- Confusing spelling with 'team'.
Practice
Quiz
What is the closest meaning of 'teem' in the sentence: 'The market teems with vendors every Saturday.'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is relatively rare and tends to be used in more formal or literary contexts to describe abundance.
Yes, it can describe non-living things in abundance, such as 'teeming rain' or places 'teeming with activity'.
Both mean to exist in large quantities, but 'teem' often implies more liveliness or movement, while 'abound' is more neutral.
Remember that 'teem' relates to abundance (like a team full of players), while 'team' is a group working together; context and spelling are key.