1
: pressed together so there is very little space between the parts or pieces
packed snow/dirt/earth
Add one cup of firmly packed brown sugar.
¹/₂ cup loosely packed fresh parsley
2
: filled with a large amount of something
Oranges are packed full of vitamin C.
—usually + withThe magazine is packed with lots of ideas for decorating your home.
a novel packed with romance and suspense
The garage is packed with junk.
a room packed to the brim/ceiling/rafters/roof with books
3
a
: full of people : filled with as many people as possible
a packed auditorium
The stadium was packed (full) with sports fans. = It was packed to capacity/bursting/overflowing.
The theater is always packed when he performs there.
b
of a crowd of people
: large enough to fill a space or place
bands playing to packed audiences/crowds
4
—used to say that you have finished putting things into bags, boxes, etc.
We're (all) packed and ready to go. [=we have packed everything we need and are ready to go]
Cite this Entry
“Packed.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/packed. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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