MEANING
To contain an abundance of people or activity.
Use it for
Full public life; seasonal influx; active urban centersMake abundance animate the place rather than merely assigning a population number.
Words that belong together
- teem with visitors
- teem with activity
- teem with commuters
On the page
The station teemed with commuters who all seemed to know a different shortcut.
During the conference, even the quiet cafés teem with visitors.
A street that had once teemed with evening activity now closed at six.
Nearby words
Related words
Word forms
- Base
- teem / teems
- Past tense
- teemed
- Past participle
- teemed
- Present participle
- teeming
Full tense & aspect guide
- Present
- teem / teems
- Present continuous
- am/is/are teeming
- Present perfect
- have/has teemed
- Present perfect continuous
- have/has been teeming
- Past
- teemed
- Past continuous
- was/were teeming
- Past perfect
- had teemed
- Past perfect continuous
- had been teeming
- Future
- will teem / teems
- Future continuous
- will be teeming
- Future perfect
- will have teemed
- Future perfect continuous
- will have been teeming
Choose the auxiliary that agrees with your subject. These are constructions of one word, not separate entries.
Usage notes
Primary category: setting. Normally teem with. Emphasizes profusion, often lively and energetic; not necessarily obstructed movement. The rare unrelated pouring sense is omitted. Base: teem; third-person singular: teems; past: teemed; past participle: teemed; present participle: teeming. Related derivations are listed separately under related.
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
Keep a thought for later. Sign in to save privately.