crowding

verb

present participle of crowd
1
as in cramming
to fit (people or things) into a tight space crowded all the boats into the harbor before the storm struck

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in flocking
to move upon or fill (something) in great numbers cars crowded the roads over the long holiday weekend

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in huddling
to gather into a closely packed group everyone crowded around to see the baby being shown off by his proud parents

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 crowding The company can’t outspend the luxury conglomerates crowding the Champagne category in other sports, so FIFA gives it substantial stature as a small, independent maison with a global platform. — Lilian Raji, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026 Some are fleeing by boat, sleeping in cars and crowding into emergency shelters as disaster spreads. — Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 27 July 2026 But at least eight other Republicans are crowding into a primary just two weeks away. — ABC News, 26 July 2026 Videos from Bangladesh, especially the capital city of Dhaka, of fans crowding the streets and celebrating Argentina victories have been a regular feature on social media across the tournament. — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 19 July 2026 Instead of crowding your entryway with a table, bench and coat rack, consider getting a piece that combines those elements, says Lynch. — Andee Tagle, NPR, 19 July 2026 His mind didn’t go blank; rather, all the what-ifs multiplied like exponents, crowding his thoughts and rendering him unable to envision anything else. — Min Jin Lee, New Yorker, 19 July 2026 The paved lot was built at the base of Fryman Canyon in 1998 to alleviate crowding and littering for wealthy Studio City neighbors whose streets were packed with cars. — Assistant Editor, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026 Instead of crowding the nightstands with table lamps, hang wall sconces or pendant lights to make the room feel lighter and more open. — Kristin Hohenadel, The Spruce, 29 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crowding
  1. cramming
  2. flocking
  3. huddling
  4. squeezing
  5. invading
  6. piling
  7. loading
  8. swarming
Verb
  • The situation is also symptomatic of broader strains on the country's higher education system, where grossly limited spots leave millions cramming for months, or even years, and high-stakes entrance exams leave many of them burnt out and in debt.
    — Sakshi Dayal, USA Today, 22 July 2026
  • An early 2022 op-ed in the University of Calgary’s student newspaper described the idea as the antithesis of hustle culture, one that finds satisfaction in mundane tasks rather than cramming productivity into every waking moment.
    — Allison Palmer July 7, Charlotte Observer, 7 July 2026
Definition of cramming
Verb
  • Left-leaning mayors from around the country will be flocking to South Florida next spring to attend a summit hosted by Miami Mayor Eileen Higgins.
    — Tess Riski July 29, Miami Herald, 29 July 2026
  • Carlo Zanella, president of the Alto Adige Alpine Club, previously told Fox News Digital that the turnstiles were installed by a local farmer after visitors repeatedly trampled meadows while flocking to the scenic overlook.
    — Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 28 July 2026
Definition of flocking
Verb
  • Meanwhile, Hochul visited the Buffalo Bills training camp, chatting with fans and huddling with the team.
    — Marcia Kramer, CBS News, 29 July 2026
  • After celebrating, a video posted by BBC Sport showed the Belgian squad huddling together to bask in their victory, before breaking out into dance.
    — Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 20 July 2026
Definition of huddling
Verb
  • The depreciation has sounded alarm bells in Tokyo, with rising import costs squeezing businesses and consumers.
    — Mia Glass, Fortune, 3 Aug. 2026
  • By squeezing the blocks together with the sample in the center, scientists apply an immense amount of pressure on it.
    — Robin Macaluso, The Conversation, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of squeezing
Verb
  • In 1982, invading Israeli forces occupied the city, withdrawing three years later.
    — Jane Arraf, NPR, 1 Aug. 2026
  • And, on the other other hand, warmer winters could accelerate the northward spread of pine processionary caterpillars, which are already invading southern Germany.
    — Ben Crair, New Yorker, 31 July 2026
Definition of invading
Verb
  • Typically placed atop a box spring or bed frame, their drape helps to keep dust bunnies from piling up under the bed.
    — Shoko Wanger, Architectural Digest, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Wakanda Forever thus became a story about mourning — but piling so many fictional deaths (ranging from nameless soldiers and civilians to the queen of Wakanda herself) on top of the real one becomes emotionally hard to take after a certain point.
    — EW Staff, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of piling
Verb
  • Plenty of my friends worked there loading clays; nothing like working in a box in the middle of August, with the sun beating down on a barren landscape, just make gas money and some Friday night jingle.
    — Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Still, trading Ray will be another avenue to continue loading a farm system on the rise.
    — Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 31 July 2026
Definition of loading
Verb
  • Brees alone didn’t easily dispose of the Cardinals, thanks to one of Reggie Bush’s most memorable NFL performances and a swarming Saints defense.
    — Larry Holder, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026
  • But the company has already demonstrated such drone swarming capability during a live-fire combat exercise at a US military range at Camp Blanding in Florida.
    — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of swarming

Browse Nearby Words

crowded
crowding
crowd-pleasing
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Cite this Entry

“Crowding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crowding. Accessed 6 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on crowding

Nglish: Translation of crowding for Spanish Speakers

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