cram

[ kram ]
See synonyms for cram on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object),crammed, cram·ming.
  1. to fill (something) by force with more than it can easily hold.

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

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

  2. Informal.

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

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

  3. Archaic. to tell lies to.

verb (used without object),crammed, cram·ming.
  1. to eat greedily or to excess.

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

  1. 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.

  1. a dense crowd; throng.

Origin of cram

1
First recorded before 1000; Middle English crammen, Old English crammian “to stuff,” akin to crimman “to put in”

Other words for cram

Other words from cram

  • cram·ming·ly, adverb
  • well-crammed, adjective

Other definitions for Cram (2 of 2)

Cram
[ kram ]

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use cram in a sentence

  • But, when the car came thundering down, it was crammed to the step; with a melancholy gesture, the driver declined her signal.

    Hilda Lessways | Arnold Bennett
  • As the weeks wore on, the pretence of practical teaching was quietly dropped, and we crammed our science out of the text-book.

    The Salvaging Of Civilisation | H. G. (Herbert George) Wells
  • The battle ended in a victory for both sides, chapel and theatre alike being crammed.

    Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham | Thomas T. Harman and Walter Showell
  • Youre very kind, Im sure, she said, taking the purse into which Mr. Chumley had crammed the money.

  • A full letter, written closely; but he had barely glanced at it when he hastily folded it again, and crammed it into his pocket.

    Elster's Folly | Mrs. Henry Wood

British Dictionary definitions for cram (1 of 2)

cram

/ (kræm) /


verbcrams, cramming or crammed
  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

  1. 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

Origin of cram

1
Old English crammian; related to Old Norse kremja to press

British Dictionary definitions for Cram (2 of 2)

Cram

/ (kræm) /


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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012