cram Hear it!

cram Definition

cram (kram)

transitive verb crammed, cram·ming

  1. to fill (a space) beyond normal capacity by pressing or squeezing; pack full or too full
  2. to stuff; force to cram papers into a drawer
  3. to feed to excess; stuff with food
  4. to prepare (a student) or review (a subject) for an examination in a hurried, intensive way

Etymology: ME crammen < OE crammian, to squeeze in, stuff; akin to MHG krammen, grip with claws < IE *grem-, to press, compress (> L gremium, lap, bosom) < base *ger-, to hold, seize

intransitive verb

  1. to eat too much or too quickly
  2. to study or review a subject in a hurried, intensive way, as in preparation for an examination

noun

  1. a crowded condition; crush
  2. the act of cramming for an examination

cram Related Forms

cram·mer noun

Cram Definition

Cram (kram)

Cram, Ralph Adams 1863-1942; U.S. architect & writer

cram Synonyms

cram

v.

  1. To stuff

    pack, jam, compact, overfill; see compress, fill 1, pack 2, press 1.

  2. *To eat greedily

    gorge, devour, stuff oneself; see eat 1.

  3. To study hurriedly

    read, review, bone up*, burn the midnight oil*; see study 1.

cram Usage Examples

Object

  • everything: We're always running round in circles, trying to cram everything into too few hours.
  • lot: He'd certainly crammed a lot into his life.

Preposition: into

  • cage: There were hundreds, maybe thousands, of chickens crammed into filthy cages stacked in tiers, like books in a library.
  • shed: Our investigators filmed: Ducks crammed into dirty, stinking sheds in their thousands.
  • space: Well the more pixels you cram into a fixed space the better the image quality.
  • hall: More than 50 people are crammed into the village hall for the dress rehearsal.
  • room: Over a hundred were crammed into the computer room to hear " Stranger Than Fiction " play last January.

Adjective complement

full: Best Of Friends Vol 1 These 560 pages are crammed full of good to great to terrific magic.

Modifying Another Word

  • tightly: Add rose petals so they are entirely covered with the oil, but not too tightly crammed.
  • absolutely: The place is absolutely crammed with plants, a lush green oasis.
  • together: Rabbits crammed together, up to 12 in a wire mesh cage.
  • inside: Crammed inside like pebbles on a beach, the crowd made enough noise to have filled a stadium.
  • all: We all crammed back into our tin can to drive 30 seconds around the corner to the lagoon.

Preposition: in

camera: It also manages to cram in a digital camera.

Preposition: with

  • bicycle: Crammed with bicycles, museums, canals and cafés and infamous for its liberal attitude, Amsterdam has lots to offer.
  • heaven: Her grave bears these words: " Earth's crammed with heaven.
  • fruit: Steeped in color and crammed with black fruits this is absolutely stunning.
  • shop: Renowned as the " antique center " of Fast Lindsey, Horncastle is crammed with antique shops.
  • photo: It is crammed with gorgeous full color photos of Cairns from the past to the present day.

Preposition: for

exam: Are some young people acquiring an ability to cram for exams without developing a real understanding of the subject?

Browse dictionary entries near cram

  1. crake
  2. Craiova
  3. Craigie
  4. Craig
  5. cragsman
  6. craggy
  7. crag
  8. crafty
  9. craftswoman
  10. craftsperson
  1. cram-down deal
  2. crambo
  3. cramoisy
  4. cramp
  5. cramp one's style
  6. cramped
  7. crampfish
  8. crampon
  9. Cranach
  10. cranberry