cram — to force or stuff something into a small space
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to force or stuff something into a small space
Pronunciation (IPA): /kræm/
Example Sentences
- My roommate tried to cram a whole pizza into the tiny dorm fridge.
- She crammed three years of French into one summer before her trip to Paris.
- The elevator was so crammed that I became best friends with a stranger's armpit.
cram
VERB[/kræm/]
to force or stuff something into a small space
Students cram their notes the night before the final exam.
C(container) + RAM(force down) — trying to RAM(force down) giant books into a tiny C(container), the panicked student stayed up to cram.
Terrified of failing the morning exam, the exhausted student drank coffee and stayed up to cram.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Old English 'crammian', meaning 'to stuff forcibly' or 'to press together'. The word derives from Germanic roots and is related to German 'klemmen' (to clamp or squeeze), reflecting a shared Indo-European heritage of compression and forceful filling.
Breakdown
The verb 'cram' consists of the root 'cramm-' (to stuff, compress) with the Old English infinitive suffix '-ian'. The Germanic root fundamentally conveys the sense of forcing or compressing material into a confined space.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My roommate tried to cram a whole pizza into the tiny dorm fridge.”
“She crammed three years of French into one summer before her trip to Paris.”
“The elevator was so crammed that I became best friends with a stranger's armpit.”
“Students usually cram the night before important exams.”
📚Related Words
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