verb
cram
kram
verb
1
To force or squeeze something into a tight space.
"He crammed all his clothes into one small suitcase."
"The subway car was crammed with commuters."
2
To study intensively in a short period, usually right before an exam.
"She stayed up all night cramming for her chemistry final."
"Cramming the night before rarely works as well as studying steadily."
How to Use Cram
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo pack something in tightly, or to study hard and fast right before a test.
Memory tip
If you hear a student say they're "cramming," they mean last-minute intensive studying.
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Common pairings
cram for an exam
cram into a bag
cram session
Word Forms
crammed past tense, crams plural, Crams plural, crams singular
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Etymology
From Old English crammian ("to stuff, cram"), from a Germanic root meaning to press or squeeze together.