How to say "overflow" in Japanese

• あふれるJLPT N2approx.Common
  ichidan verb, intransitive verbCovers the core sense: liquid rising above the brim of its container or flooding an area — water brimming over a full bathtub, a river flooding. Usually written in kana alone.
  その街まちは活気かっきにあふれていた。↗

  The town was full of activity.
• こぼれるJLPT N2approx.Common
  ichidan verb, intransitive verbCovers the spilling sense: liquid slopping over the edge of a cup, or contents falling out of a container. Its 'overflow' is a spill over the rim, not a flood.
  コーヒーがこぼれましたよ。↗

  You've spilt your coffee.
• 埋まるうまるJLPT N1approx.Common
  godan verb, intransitive verbReally means to be filled or packed, as when a hall fills with people. Its 'overflow' sense is that packed-full state, not liquid spilling over, so it is seldom the word for literal overflow.
  会場かいじょうは立たちすいの余地よちもないほどに聴衆ちょうしゅうで埋うまっていた。↗

  The hall was filled with such a large audience that there wasn't even standing room.

Use 「あふれる」 for liquid brimming over or flooding, 「こぼれる」 for spilling over an edge or out of a container, and 「埋まる」 mainly for places being packed or filled, where 'overflow' is only marginal.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• あふれるto overflow
• こぼれるto spill
• みなぎるto rise high (of water)
• オーバーフローoverflow (of a liquid)
• あふれoverflow
• 溢流いつりゅうoverflow
• 充溢じゅういつoverflow
• 桁あふれけたあふれoverflow
• 越流えつりゅうoverflow
• 溢水いっすいinundation
• 排水口はいすいこうdrain
• 埋まるうまるto overflow
• 滴るしたたるto overflow (with freshness, beauty, etc.)
• たぎるto well up (of emotions)
• 唸るうなるto be about to burst