often attributive
1
a
: a bundle arranged for convenience in carrying especially on the back
b
: a group or pile of related objects
2
a
: the contents of a bundle
b
: a large amount or number : heap
a pack of lies
c
: a full set of playing cards
3
a
: an act or instance of packing
b
: a method of packing
4
a
: a set of persons with a common interest : clique
b
: an organized unit (as of Cub Scouts)
5
a(1)
: a group of domesticated animals trained to hunt or run together
(2)
: a group of often predatory animals of the same kind
a wolf pack
(3)
: a large group of individuals massed together (as in a race)
b
6
: a concentrated or compacted mass (as of snow or ice)
7
: absorbent material (such as gauze pads) used to apply medicine or moisture or to press upon a body part or plug an opening (as to stop bleeding) see ice pack sense 2
8
a
: a cosmetic paste for the face
b
: an application or treatment of oils or creams for conditioning the scalp and hair
9
: material used in packing
packed; packing; packs
1
a
: to make into a compact bundle
b
: to fill completely
fans packed the stadium
c
: to fill with packing
pack a joint in a pipe
d
: to load with a pack
pack a mule
e
: to put in a protective container
goods packed for shipment
2
a
: to crowd together
b
: to increase the density of : compress
3
a
: to cause or command to go without ceremony
packed him off to school
b
: to bring to an end : give up
—used with up or in
might pack up the assignment
—used especially in the phrase pack it in
4
: to gather into tight formation : make a pack of (animals, such as hounds)
5
: to cover or surround with a pack
6
a
: to transport on foot or on the back of an animal
pack a canoe overland
b
: to wear or carry as equipment
pack a gun
c
: to be supplied or equipped with : possess
a storm packing hurricane winds
d
: to make or be capable of making (an impact)
a book that packs a man-sized punch—
C. J. Rolo
C. J. Rolo1
2
a
: to stow goods and equipment for transportation
b
: to be suitable for packing
a knit dress packs well
3
a
: to assemble in a group : congregate
b
: to crowd together
4
: to become built up or compacted in a layer or mass
the ore packed into a stony mass
5
a
: to carry goods or equipment
b
: to travel with one's baggage (as by horse)
packed; packing; packs
1
: to influence the composition of so as to bring about a desired result
pack a jury
"… packing a court, increasing the number of justices so you can get a desired outcome. … "—Andy Biggs
see also court-packing, pack the court
Andy Biggs2
archaic
: to arrange (the cards in a pack) so as to cheat
Synonyms
Examples of pack in a Sentence
Noun
He took a map and a bottle of water out of his pack.
hikers carrying heavy packs up a mountain
They loaded the packs onto the horses.
The entire pack of crayons spilled on the floor.
Cigarettes typically come in packs of 20.
You'll receive your informational pack upon arrival.
Recent Examples on the WebKansas City Star, 3 Apr. 2024
Buy Now on Neiman Marcus: $9,950 Photo : Nili Lotan
Nili Lotan Trenton Trench Coat
With a warm honey hue Nili Lotan’s melodiously named Trenton trench subtly stands out from the rest of the pack.
—Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 3 Apr. 2024
The flashlight proved to be durable during testing, and can be purchased either individually or in a pack of two.
—Jack Byram, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Mar. 2024
Tickets are available for general admission and in family packs for four.
—Karlee Van De Venter, Idaho Statesman, 29 Mar. 2024
Costco now produces around 388 million non-kosher hot dogs a year at its plants for both food courts and to sell in packs.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2024
Usually a light, squeezable bottle with a spray nozzle, portable bidets are easy to use, pack, and clean.
—Joel Balsam, Travel + Leisure, 21 Mar. 2024
The proton packs and the Ectomobile get trotted out.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 21 Mar. 2024
Meanwhile, Wisconsin firefighters Sunny Pulver and Bizzy Smith remain in the back of the pack after struggling with the finer details in the two tasks during Wednesday night's episode as teams continued their race around steamy Puerto Vallarta.
—Christopher Kuhagen, Journal Sentinel, 20 Mar. 2024
Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 4 Apr. 2024
The Keys are home to the southernmost point in the continental U.S, so set your compass southward, pack your car, grab your girls, and get going.
—Caroline Rogers, Southern Living, 2 Apr. 2024
Photo Gallery Easter Sunday 2024 In years past, the church has been packed with worshippers and tourists.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 1 Apr. 2024
Lightweight and breathable, these waterproof, windproof pants have been created with poor weather in mind, acting as a high-quality barrier against the elements while taking up minimal space in your bag while packing.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 1 Apr. 2024
Additionally, there are also a variety of materials such as cotton, suede, velour, fleece and nylon, and there are also travel pillows that can be inflated, deflated and easily packed.
—Jacqueline Laurean Yates, ABC News, 1 Apr. 2024
The workers weren’t parishioners at Sacred Heart of Jesus, whose pews were packed Sunday for mass.
—Mike Pesoli, Fortune, 1 Apr. 2024
In the more liberal suburb of Lakewood, upset residents packed a public meeting where officials tried to dispel false rumors that migrants would be taken in.
—Karin Brulliard, Washington Post, 22 Mar. 2024
To avoid looking like a prune after your flight, pack a light moisturizer and apply it frequently.
22.
—Eric Rosen, Travel + Leisure, 22 Mar. 2024
Joseph Wolkin, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2021
Velociraptors were pack animals, that much is clear.
—Robin George Andrews, Discover Magazine, 14 June 2015
The service said that anyone who needs to be outside should dress in layers, cover as much of their skin as possible and pack winter safety kits in their vehicles.
—Daniel Arkin, NBC News, 26 Dec. 2022
The multi-pack set includes two small, two medium, and one large cube.
—Annie Burdick, Peoplemag, 12 Aug. 2022
Fans go wild for Magnolia Bakery's banana pudding — so much so that popular bakery chain had released a pudding multi-pack, available to ship coast to coast.
—Dave Quinn, Peoplemag, 5 Aug. 2022
Pricing starts at $54,795 for an LS model, although our favorite is the mid-pack RST trim, which can be fitted with the diesel engine as well as four-wheel drive.
—Nicholas Wallace, Car and Driver, 29 Mar. 2022
The result is more pack-style racing, with the drafting in practice looking eerily similar to restrictor-plate traffic jams at Daytona or Talladega.
—Mark Heim | Mheim@al.com, al, 20 Mar. 2022
Flatlock seams mean no irritation under pack shoulder straps.
—Lisa Jhung, Outside Online, 30 July 2020
Noun
This pivotal development marks a significant milestone in the industrialization of high-tension battery packs designed specifically for Vision Marine's innovative electric boating solutions.
—Kansas City Star, 3 Apr. 2024
Buy Now on Neiman Marcus: $9,950 Photo : Nili Lotan
Nili Lotan Trenton Trench Coat
With a warm honey hue Nili Lotan’s melodiously named Trenton trench subtly stands out from the rest of the pack.
—Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 3 Apr. 2024
The flashlight proved to be durable during testing, and can be purchased either individually or in a pack of two.
—Jack Byram, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Mar. 2024
Tickets are available for general admission and in family packs for four.
—Karlee Van De Venter, Idaho Statesman, 29 Mar. 2024
Costco now produces around 388 million non-kosher hot dogs a year at its plants for both food courts and to sell in packs.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2024
Usually a light, squeezable bottle with a spray nozzle, portable bidets are easy to use, pack, and clean.
—Joel Balsam, Travel + Leisure, 21 Mar. 2024
The proton packs and the Ectomobile get trotted out.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 21 Mar. 2024
Meanwhile, Wisconsin firefighters Sunny Pulver and Bizzy Smith remain in the back of the pack after struggling with the finer details in the two tasks during Wednesday night's episode as teams continued their race around steamy Puerto Vallarta.
—Christopher Kuhagen, Journal Sentinel, 20 Mar. 2024
Verb
The outing comes about seven months after the couple was first spotted together, packing on the PDA at the Cara Hotel in Los Angeles.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 4 Apr. 2024
The Keys are home to the southernmost point in the continental U.S, so set your compass southward, pack your car, grab your girls, and get going.
—Caroline Rogers, Southern Living, 2 Apr. 2024
Photo Gallery Easter Sunday 2024 In years past, the church has been packed with worshippers and tourists.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 1 Apr. 2024
Lightweight and breathable, these waterproof, windproof pants have been created with poor weather in mind, acting as a high-quality barrier against the elements while taking up minimal space in your bag while packing.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 1 Apr. 2024
Additionally, there are also a variety of materials such as cotton, suede, velour, fleece and nylon, and there are also travel pillows that can be inflated, deflated and easily packed.
—Jacqueline Laurean Yates, ABC News, 1 Apr. 2024
The workers weren’t parishioners at Sacred Heart of Jesus, whose pews were packed Sunday for mass.
—Mike Pesoli, Fortune, 1 Apr. 2024
In the more liberal suburb of Lakewood, upset residents packed a public meeting where officials tried to dispel false rumors that migrants would be taken in.
—Karin Brulliard, Washington Post, 22 Mar. 2024
To avoid looking like a prune after your flight, pack a light moisturizer and apply it frequently.
22.
—Eric Rosen, Travel + Leisure, 22 Mar. 2024
Adjective
BJ McLeod Motorsports became a staple in Nascar’s version of Triple-A, and it’s seen as a place where drivers can earn their first major shot to compete in mid-pack equipment.
—Joseph Wolkin, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2021
Velociraptors were pack animals, that much is clear.
—Robin George Andrews, Discover Magazine, 14 June 2015
The service said that anyone who needs to be outside should dress in layers, cover as much of their skin as possible and pack winter safety kits in their vehicles.
—Daniel Arkin, NBC News, 26 Dec. 2022
The multi-pack set includes two small, two medium, and one large cube.
—Annie Burdick, Peoplemag, 12 Aug. 2022
Fans go wild for Magnolia Bakery's banana pudding — so much so that popular bakery chain had released a pudding multi-pack, available to ship coast to coast.
—Dave Quinn, Peoplemag, 5 Aug. 2022
Pricing starts at $54,795 for an LS model, although our favorite is the mid-pack RST trim, which can be fitted with the diesel engine as well as four-wheel drive.
—Nicholas Wallace, Car and Driver, 29 Mar. 2022
The result is more pack-style racing, with the drafting in practice looking eerily similar to restrictor-plate traffic jams at Daytona or Talladega.
—Mark Heim | Mheim@al.com, al, 20 Mar. 2022
Flatlock seams mean no irritation under pack shoulder straps.
—Lisa Jhung, Outside Online, 30 July 2020
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pack.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English, of Low German or Dutch origin; akin to Middle Low German & Middle Dutch pak pack
Verb (2)
obsolete pack to make a secret agreement
Adjective
perhaps from obsolete pack to make a secret agreement
First Known Use
Noun
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb (1)
15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a
Verb (2)
1575, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Adjective
1686, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of pack was
in the 13th century
Phrases Containing pack
Dictionary Entries Near pack
Cite this Entry
“Pack.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pack. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
pack
1 of 3 noun1
a
: a bundle arranged for carrying especially on the back of a person or animal
b
: a group of items packaged as a unit
a pack of cards
c
d
: a stack of magnetic disks in a container for use as a storage device
2
: the contents of a pack
3
a
: a group of similar persons or animals
a pack of thieves
a wolf pack
b
: an organized troop (as of Cub Scouts)
4
: a tight mass or group
especially
: a mass of ice chunks floating on the sea
5
: absorbent material (as gauze pads) used medically (as to apply medicine or moisture or to press upon a bodily part to stop bleeding) compare ice pack sense 2
pack
2 of 3 verb1
a
: to place articles in (as for transportation or storage)
pack a suitcase
b
: to cover or fill so as to prevent passage (as of air or water)
pack the joint of a pipe
c
: to place closely and securely in a container or bundle
pack goods
2
a
: to crowd in
people packed the hall
b
: to form into a pack
ice is packing in the gorge
3
: to send or go away without delay
pack a child off to school
4
: to transport on foot or on the back of an animal
pack water from a spring
5
: carry entry 1 sense 6
pack a gun
6
: to be supplied with : possess
a storm packing hurricane winds
pack
3 of 3 verb
: to choose or bring together dishonestly so as to be assured of a favorable vote
pack a jury
Etymology
Noun
Middle English pack "a bundle for carrying on the back"; of Germanic origin
Verb
from obsolete pack "to make a secret agreement"
Medical Definition
pack
1 of 2 noun1
: a container shielded with lead or mercury for holding radium in large quantities especially for therapeutic application
2
b
: a folded square or compress of gauze or other absorbent material used especially to maintain a clear field in surgery, to plug cavities, to check bleeding by compression, or to apply medication
pack
2 of 2 transitive verb
: to cover or surround with a pack
packed it away from the operative field with gauze packs—R. P. Parsons
R. P. Parsons
specifically
: to envelop (a patient) in a wet or dry sheet or blanket
Legal Definition
pack
transitive verb
: to influence the composition of (as a political agency) so as to bring about a desired result
pack a jury
More from Merriam-Webster on pack
Nglish: Translation of pack for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of pack for Arabic Speakers
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