be teeming with

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be teeming with" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a place or situation that is full of something, often in a lively or abundant way. Example: "The garden was be teeming with colorful flowers and buzzing bees."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

So the country should be teeming with tourists.

The Economist

He needed Precambrian life – he needed the Precambrian seas to be teeming with life.

The Guardian

I'm a Freak Baby's four hours seem to be teeming with ideas.

The Guardian - Music

But while Tehran's hotel lobbies may be teeming with foreign businessmen, ordinary Iranians are looking ahead to more tangible improvements.

The Guardian - Opinion

The verges on the A6 north of Kendal are said to be teeming with the weed and it is also charging unchecked along railways and motorways.

The Guardian

"If the local stellar neighborhood," they write, "is a representative sample of the galaxy as a whole, our Milky Way could be teeming with potentially habitable planets".

The New York Times

IN a city said to be teeming with potential mates, where in New York do you look for a great catch?

The New York Times

Given that there could be upward of a billion Earth-like planets in our galaxy alone, this assumption suggests that the universe should be teeming with life.

The New York Times

Although opium dens could be found, alcohol was the drug of choice and Spinningfields was said to be "teeming with gin and ale houses".

The Guardian

"So if you have standing water for longer than three or four days, you've got a potential breeding ground that could soon be teeming with mosquitoes".

The New York Times

Marcel Proust, a famous snob from a country generally thought to be teeming with them, defined snobbery as "admiration of something in other people unconnected with their personality".

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the connotations of "teeming". It often suggests a positive abundance, but can also imply something is overcrowded or overwhelming, depending on the context.

Common error

While "be teeming with" is a strong phrase, avoid using it too frequently in a single piece of writing. Vary your language by using synonyms like "abound with" or "be full of" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be teeming with" functions as a descriptive expression, characterizing a subject as abundant or full of something. Ludwig shows that this expression adds vividness and intensity to descriptions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "be teeming with" is a versatile and widely used expression to convey abundance and liveliness. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness and common usage across various contexts, from news articles to scientific papers. To improve your writing, use this phrase to create vivid descriptions, but remember to avoid overuse and consider synonyms to enhance your stylistic range. The phrase is generally considered neutral and appropriate for various registers.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

abound with

Uses a single verb to convey the idea of plentiful existence, creating a more concise expression.

be abundant in

Highlights the presence of something in great quantity within a specific area or context.

be rich in

Emphasizes the high concentration or quality of a particular element or feature present.

be overflowing with

Suggests a state of excess, where something is so full that it spills over or is beyond capacity.

be packed with

Implies a tight or dense arrangement of items or elements filling a space completely.

be full of

A simpler and more general way to express that something contains a large quantity of something else.

swarm with

Describes a situation where a place is filled with a large number of moving creatures or objects.

bristle with

Often used when referring to challenges or difficulties, this suggests a threatening or defensive abundance.

be crawling with

Often used to describe insects or other small creatures, this suggests an unsettling abundance.

be heavily populated with

Focuses on the population aspect, indicating a significant number of inhabitants or elements.

FAQs

How can I use "be teeming with" in a sentence?

You can use "be teeming with" to describe a place or thing that is full of something. For example, "The coral reef was teeming with colorful fish", or "The city was teeming with tourists during the summer months".

What are some alternatives to "be teeming with"?

Some alternatives to "be teeming with" include "be full of", "abound with", "be rich in", "be overflowing with", and "be packed with". The best choice depends on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is "be teeming with" formal or informal?

"Be teeming with" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal writing, as shown by Ludwig across many different sources and categories.

What does "be teeming with" imply?

"Be teeming with" implies that something is not just present, but present in large quantities or abundance. It suggests a lively and active presence.