crowded

UK: /ˈkraʊdɪd/ US: /ˈkraʊdɪd/ ,(krou′did)

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

crowd•ed /ˈkraʊdɪd/   adj. 

1. filled with people;
   having too many people:
   just another face in the crowded lecture hall.
2. uncomfortable because of overcrowding:
   I felt crowded in the jammed subway car.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

crowd•ed  (krou′did), adj. 

1. filled to excess;
   packed.
2. filled with a crowd:
   crowded streets.
3. uncomfortably close together:
   crowded passengers on a bus.

• crowd¹ + -ed² 1605–15

crowd′ed•ly, adv. 

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

crowd¹ /kraʊd/   n. [countable]

1. a large number of people gathered together;
   throng:
   The crowd broke up and people went on their way.
2. any group having something in common, or sharing the same interests:
   the theater crowd.
3. a group of spectators;
   audience:
   the opening night crowd.

v. 

4. to gather in large numbers;
   throng:
   [no object] They crowded around to watch the police give first aid.
5. to press closely together;
   squeeze into a small space;
   cram: [no object]
   The reporters crowded close to the president.
   [~ + object]
   The police crowded us back into the street.
6. to fill, such as by pressing or thronging into:
   [~ + object] The partygoers crowded the streets.
7. to put or place under constant pressure:
   [~ + object] They were crowding me, asking for a decision I wasn't ready to give.

Synonyms

crowd, multitude, swarm, throng refer to large numbers of people. crowd suggests a moving, pushing, uncomfortable, and possibly disorderly company: A crowd gathered to listen to the speech. multitude emphasizes the great number of persons or things but suggests that there is space enough for all: a multitude of people at the market on Saturdays. swarm, when it is used of people, is usually contemptuous, suggesting a moving, restless, often noisy, crowd: A swarm of dirty children played in the street. throng suggests a company that presses together or forward, often with some common aim: The throng pushed forward to see the cause of the excitement.

Usage

See collective noun.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

crowd¹  (kroud), n. 

1. a large number of persons gathered closely together;
   throng:
   a crowd of angry people.
2. any large number of persons.
3. any group or set of persons with something in common:
   The restaurant attracts a theater crowd.
4. audience;
   attendance:
   Opening night drew a good crowd.
5. the common people;
   the masses:
   He feels superior to the crowd.
6. a large number of things gathered or considered together.
7. Sociology a temporary gathering of people responding to common stimuli and engaged in any of various forms of collective behavior.

v.i. 

8. to gather in large numbers;
   throng;
   swarm.
9. to press forward;
   advance by pushing.

v.t. 

10. to press closely together;
    force into a confined space;
    cram:
    to crowd clothes into a suitcase.
11. to push;
    shove.
12. to fill to excess;
    fill by pressing or thronging into.
13. to place under pressure or stress by constant solicitation:
    to crowd a debtor for payment; to crowd someone with embarrassing questions.
14. Nautical crowd on sail, to carry a press of sail.

• bef. 950; Middle English crowden, Old English crūden to press, hurry; cognate with Middle Dutch crūden to push (Dutch kruien)

crowd′er, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. Crowd, multitude, swarm, throng refer to large numbers of people.
  Crowd suggests a jostling, uncomfortable, and possibly disorderly company:
  A crowd gathered to listen to the speech.
  Multitude emphasizes the great number of persons or things but suggests that there is space enough for all:
  a multitude of people at the market on Saturdays.
  Swarm as used of people is usually contemptuous, suggesting a moving, restless, often noisy, crowd:
  A swarm of dirty children played in the street.
  Throng suggests a company that presses together or forward, often with some common aim:
  The throng pushed forward to see the cause of the excitement.
• 5. proletariat, plebeians, populace.
• 8. assemble, herd.

Usage

See collective noun. 

crowd²  (kroud), n. 

1. Music and Dance an ancient Celtic musical instrument with the strings stretched over a rectangular frame, played with a bow.

Also, crwth. 

• Welsh crwth crwth
• Middle English crowd(e), variant of crouth 1275–1325

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

crowd / kraʊd/ noun

1. a large number of things or people gathered or considered together
2. a particular group of people, esp considered as a social or business set: the crowd from the office
3. the crowd ⇒ ordinary people collectively

verb

1. (intransitive) to gather together in large numbers; throng
2. (transitive) to press together into a confined space
3. (transitive) to fill to excess; fill by pushing into
4. (transitive) to urge or harass by urging

Etymology: Old English crūdan; related to Middle Low German krūden to molest, Middle Dutch crūden to push, Norwegian kryda to swarm

ˈcrowded adjective

ˈcrowdedness noun