cram

¹

[kram]

verb (used with object)

crammed, cramming 

1. to fill (something) by force with more than it can easily hold.

   Synonyms: overcrowd, compress, squeeze, pack, crowd

2. to force or stuff (usually followed by into, down, etc.).

3. to fill with or as with an excessive amount of food; overfeed.

   Synonyms: glut

4. Informal.

   1. to prepare (a person), as for an exam, by having them memorize information within a short period of time.

   2. to acquire knowledge of (a subject) by so preparing oneself.

5. Archaic.,  to tell lies to.

verb (used without object)

crammed, cramming 

1. to eat greedily or to excess.

   Synonyms: gorge

2. to study for an examination by memorizing facts at the last minute.

3. to press or force accommodation in a room, vehicle, etc., beyond normal or comfortable capacity; crowd; jam.

   The whole team crammed into the bus.

noun

1. Informal.,  the act of preparing for an exam by memorizing information within a short time period.

2. an excessively full state.

3. a dense crowd; throng.

Cram

²

[kram]

noun

1. Ralph Adams, 1863–1942, U.S. architect and writer.

cram

¹

/ kræm /

verb

1. (tr) to force (people, material, etc) into (a room, container, etc) with more than it can hold; stuff

2. to eat or cause to eat more than necessary

3. informal,  to study or cause to study (facts, etc), esp for an examination, by hastily memorizing

noun

1. the act or condition of cramming

2. a crush

Cram

²

/ kræm /

noun

1. Steve. born 1960, English middle-distance runner: European 1500 m champion (1981, 1986); world 1500 m champion (1983)

Other Word Forms

• crammingly adverb
• well-crammed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cram¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English crammen, Old English crammian “to stuff,” akin to crimman “to put in”

Word History and Origins

Origin of cram¹

Old English crammian; related to Old Norse kremja to press

Example Sentences

The computing power of chips has increased dramatically as makers cram them with more microscopic electronic components.

Read more on Barron's

Goodwill, long known for its dingy thrift stores with dark, crammed aisles and overflowing bins, is getting more glamorous.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“Those who accepted these awful conditions — crammed with their families in a tiny room meant for one student — even they will find themselves on the street,” Al-Sabbagh said.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

I don’t think we would have necessarily crammed more trips into the first years of retirement.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

There had been no ladies’ shoes in all of Ashton Place into which Simon could cram his generously sized feet.

Read more on Literature

Related Words

• crowd 
• load 
• overcrowd 
• pack 
• ram 
• shove 
• squeeze 
• stuff 
• wedge