cram
verb /kræm/
/kræm/
Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they cram | /kræm/ /kræm/ |
| he / she / it crams | /kræmz/ /kræmz/ |
| past simple crammed | /kræmd/ /kræmd/ |
| past participle crammed | /kræmd/ /kræmd/ |
| -ing form cramming | /ˈkræmɪŋ/ /ˈkræmɪŋ/ |
- [transitive, intransitive] to push or force somebody/something into a small space; to move into a small space with the result that it is full
- cram somebody/something into/onto something He crammed eight people into his car.
- cram something in I could never cram in all that she does in a day.
- cram something + adv./prep. I managed to cram down a few mouthfuls of food.
- cram something Supporters crammed the streets.
- cram something full I bought a large basket and crammed it full of presents.
- cram into/onto something We all managed to cram into his car.
- [intransitive] cram (for something) (North American English, informal or British English, old-fashioned) to learn a lot of things in a short time, in preparation for an exam synonym swot
- He's been cramming for his exams all week.
Word OriginOld English crammian, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch krammen ‘to cramp or clamp’.