cram

1 of 2

verb

ˈkram 

crammed; cramming

transitive verb

1

: to pack tight : jam

cram a suitcase with clothes

a novel crammed with surprises

2

a

: to fill with food to satiety : stuff

b

: to eat voraciously : bolt

the child crams her food

3

: to thrust in or as if in a rough or forceful manner

crammed the letters into his pocket

4

: to prepare hastily for an examination

cram the students for the test

intransitive verb

1

: to eat greedily or to satiety : stuff

2

: to study a subject intensively especially for an imminent examination

crammer noun

cram

2 of 2

noun

1

: a compressed multitude or crowd : crush

2

: last-minute study especially for an examination

Synonyms

Verb

• crowd
• crush
• jam
• ram
• sandwich
• shoehorn
• squeeze
• stuff
• wedge

Noun

• army
• bike [chiefly Scottish]
• crowd
• crush
• drove
• flock
• herd
• horde
• host
• legion
• mass
• mob
• multitude
• press
• rout
• scrum
• swarm
• throng

Examples of cram in a Sentence

Verb

He crammed the suitcase with his clothes.

Before the trip I crammed my head with information about Spain.

Noun

battling the rush-hour cram in the subway

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Millions more cram the sidewalks to clap, bang drums, and wave sardonic homemade signs. —Frederick Dreier, Outside Online, 9 Nov. 2024

Using this technique, mapmakers could cram most of an area's Republicans into one district, which the Republican candidate is guaranteed to win by a large margin while assuring Democrats can win the surrounding districts. —Jessie Balmert, The Enquirer, 31 Oct. 2024

Noun

Two Hands, along fast-developing Tennyson Street, is an Australian-style restaurant that crams fresh, healthy ingredients into satisfying bowls. —Steve Knopper, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2024

Most people infected with the toxin-producing E. coli experience severe stomach crams, diarrhea and vomiting. —Kate Gibson, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English crammen, from Old English crammian; akin to Old Norse kremja to squeeze

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1810, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing cram

• cram in

Kids Definition

cram

verb

ˈkram

crammed; cramming

1

: to stuff or crowd in

cram clothes into a bag

2

: to fill full

barns crammed with hay

3

: to study hard just before a test

crammer noun

Biographical Definition

Cram 1 of 2

biographical name (1)

ˈkram 

Donald James 1919–2001 American chemist

Cram

2 of 2

biographical name (2)

Ralph Adams 1863–1942 American architect and author