cram

UK: /ˈkræm/ US: /kræm/ ,(kram)

Inflections of 'cram' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

crams

v 3rd person singular

cramming

v pres p

crammed

v past

crammed

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

cram /kræm/   v., crammed, cram•ming. 

1. to fill (something) by force with more than it can easily hold:
   [~ + object] crammed his mouth full of food.
2. to force or stuff (something):
   [~ + object + down/into + object] crammed all his belongings into the tiny car.
3. [~ + into + object] to crowd;
   jam:
   A mob crammed into the hall.
4. to study for an examination by memorizing facts at the last minute:
   [no object] stayed up all night cramming for the exam.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

cram  (kram), v., crammed, cram•ming, n. 
v.t. 

1. to fill (something) by force with more than it can easily hold.
2. to force or stuff (usually fol. by into, down, etc.).
3. to fill with or as with an excessive amount of food;
   overfeed.
4. Informal Terms
   • to prepare (a person), as for an examination, by having him or her memorize information within a short period of time.
   • to acquire knowledge of (a subject) by so preparing oneself.
5. [Archaic.] to tell lies to.

v.i. 
6. to eat greedily or to excess.
7. to study for an examination by memorizing facts at the last minute.
8. to press or force accommodation in a room, vehicle, etc., beyond normal or comfortable capacity;
   crowd;
   jam:
   The whole team crammed into the bus.

n. 
9. Informal Terms the act of cramming for an examination.
10. a crammed state.
11. a dense crowd;
    throng.
• Middle English crammen, Old English crammian to stuff, akin to crimman to put in bef. 1000
cram′ming•ly, adv. 
Synonyms
• 1. crowd, pack, squeeze, compress, overcrowd.
• 3. glut.
• 6. gorge.

Cram  (kram), n. 

1. Biographical Ralph Adams, 1863–1942, U.S. architect and writer.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

cram / kræm/ verb (crams, cramming, crammed)

1. (transitive) to force (people, material, etc) into (a room, container, etc) with more than it can hold; stuff
2. to eat or cause to eat more than necessary
3. to study or cause to study (facts, etc), esp for an examination, by hastily memorizing

noun

1. the act or condition of cramming
2. a crush

Etymology: Old English crammian; related to Old Norse kremja to press

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

Cram / kræm/ noun

1. Steve. born 1960, English middle-distance runner: European 1500 m champion (1981, 1986); world 1500 m champion (1983)