cram

¹

[ kram ]

verb (used with object)

, crammed, cram·ming.

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, cram·ming.

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 /

noun

1. CramSteve1960MEnglishSPORT AND GAMES: runner Steve. born 1960, English middle-distance runner: European 1500 m champion (1981, 1986); world 1500 m champion (1983)

cram

²

/ 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

Other Words From

• cramming·ly 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

Those who didn’t find room with relatives cram into public schools and hotels, squat in abandoned buildings or, for the truly desperate, sleep in makeshift tent encampments that now line the city’s parks and seaside boulevards.

From Los Angeles Times

But while it might have been possible to cram in more beds, finding the extra skilled workers to staff them was far more difficult.

From BBC

They escaped north with little more than whatever they could cram into or atop their vehicles.

From Los Angeles Times

He also revealed that there was "no obvious role" for him in the film, but "they wanted to cram me in".

From BBC

"But they wanted to cram me in," he said.

From BBC

Related Words

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