cram 1 of 2

noun

Definition of cramnext
as in swarm
a great number of persons or things massed together battling the rush-hour cram in the subway

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cram

2 of 2

verb

ˈkram How to pronounce cram (audio)
1
as in to squeeze
to fit (people or things) into a tight space tried to cram one more book into the backpack

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2
as in to fill
to put into (something) as much as can be held or contained crammed his mouth with candy

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3
as in to stuff
to fill with food to capacity one of those eating contests in which competitors attempt to cram themselves with as many hot dogs as they can in three minutes

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4
as in to devour
to swallow or eat greedily the thoughtless guest crammed a dinner that had taken hours to prepare

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of cram
Noun
For that first model, Intel had even made a special version of its Core 2 Duo CPU with 60 percent smaller packaging, something that helped Apple cram an entire laptop into something that could fit in a manila envelope. — ArsTechnica, 15 June 2026 Her lips were forced back by a cram of crooked fangs. — Stephen King, The Atlantic, 15 May 2026
Verb
While Alaska’s smokejumpers waited for thunderheads to ignite fires, several of them worked in the loft, an airy room crammed with sewing machines and bolts of fabric on long tables. — M. R. O’Connor, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026 Humans grew to expect a level of privacy, even in crowded cities where tens of thousands of people cram into a few square miles of downtown. — Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cram
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cram
  1. swarm
  2. squeeze
  3. fill
  4. stuff
  5. devour
  6. throng
  7. load
  8. pack
Noun
  • With only two publicly demonstrated ready-to-fire missiles, a vehicle like this would be poorly suited to independently handle a large drone swarm.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Also late last week, evidence emerged that a different swarm of OpenAI’s AI agents had taken over a German wiki page and that OpenAI had failed to disclose the incident.
    — Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of swarm
Verb
  • As more homes come onto the market and mortgage rates remain elevated, sellers are increasingly adjusting prices to attract buyers who have been squeezed by affordability challenges.
    — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2026
  • The surge has raised concerns that higher gasoline prices could squeeze household budgets and weigh on consumer spending.
    — Alexa LoMonaco, CNBC, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of squeeze
Verb
  • Most movies are paired with local live acts to fill the air as the crowd mills in or to keep the party going long after the projector shuts off.
    — Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Mortgage rates remain elevated, filling a gas tank can easily cost $100, and grocery bills continue to strain family budgets.
    — Norbert J. Michel, Washington Post, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of fill
Verb
  • In Boston, each of the new 425-square-foot wellness rooms at the Dagny has a Peloton bike and a Technogym bench stuffed with dumbbells, elastic bands, and knuckle weights.
    — Chadner Navarro, Travel + Leisure, 8 Sep. 2026
  • The museum is deceptively large inside, absolutely stuffed with items.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of stuff
Verb
  • Any food or flesh that crossed their paths was quickly devoured.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Davis loved to read and collect books, devouring anything from John Updike and Margaret Atwood, among other authors, a passion that necessitated having bookshelves in every room of his home.
    — Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of devour
Noun
  • Over the past few days, the people at the front of the lines have gradually moved closer and closer to the courtroom, to the point where the doors can barely open without bumping into a throng of people.
    — Rebekah Riess, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026
  • My waxer told me of a client who got her foot stuck among a moving throng—her leg went snap.
    — Lauren Michele Jackson, New Yorker, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of throng
Verb
  • Better hygiene isn’t the only reason Bogoyavlenskiy and his team load silverware this way.
    — Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Sep. 2026
  • After perfecting the design on their computer, Tiu loaded a drum of yellow ink into the printer.
    — Rebecca Tauber, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of load
Verb
  • Saturday’s match may have been short on true quality but still packed a punch, with Wrexham furious that home substitute Ben Cabango was shown only a yellow card by referee Elliot Bell for a wild challenge on O’Hare.
    — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Cinnamon and pecans pack the breakfast or snack bread with even more flavor.
    — Ginger Crichton, Midwest Living, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of pack

Browse Nearby Words

crakes
cram
crammed
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Cite this Entry

“Cram.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cram. Accessed 11 Sep. 2026.

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