Synonyms

overcrowd

American

[oh-ver-kroud] / ˌoʊ vərˈkraʊd /

verb (used with or without object)

to crowd to an uncomfortable or undesirable excess.

overcrowd British

/ ˌəʊvəˈkraʊd /

verb

(tr) to fill (a room, vehicle, city, etc) with more people or things than is desirable

"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

Etymology

Origin of overcrowd

First recorded in 1760–70; over- + crowd ¹

Vocabulary lists containing overcrowd

“Refugees: Who, Where, Why” and "Children of War" by Arthur Brice

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Buses are a common mode of transport in India, but operators frequently ignore safety rules and overcrowd vehicles, while the nation had the highest road accident death tolls in the world last year.

From BBC • Oct. 25, 2025

You want all of the toppings and additions to highlight the rice, not overcrowd or overwhelm it.

From Salon • Mar. 17, 2025

Don’t overcrowd an entry with too much furniture.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 5, 2023

Working in batches, if needed, so as to not overcrowd the pan, place the chicken in the skillet, skin side down, and sear until nicely browned, 5 to 8 minutes.

From Washington Post • Mar. 9, 2022

Aaron counted for less than nothing in a world he helped to overcrowd, and of which he perceived very little.

From Dreamers of the Ghetto by Zangwill, Israel

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023