Definition

1. Verb:
   • To study intensively and hastily, especially in preparation for an exam: To learn a large amount of information in a short period of time.
   • To force something into a space that is too small or already full: To push or pack things tightly into a container or space.
   • To fill a space completely with people or things: To be or become extremely crowded.

Examples of Usage

• Verb (Studying):

  • I need to cram for my history final tomorrow.
  • She crammed all night before the big test.

• Verb (Packing/Filling):

  • He tried to cram all his clothes into one small suitcase.
  • Don't cram so many books into your backpack; it will tear.

• Verb (Crowding):

  • Over fifty people crammed into the tiny apartment for the party.
  • The stadium was crammed with excited fans.

Advanced Usage

• "to cram something down someone's throat": To force someone to accept an idea, opinion, or belief.

  • The manager is always trying to cram new procedures down our throats without asking for our input.

• "to cram for the test/exam": This is the most common collocation for the studying meaning.

  • It's not effective to just cram for the exam; you need to study consistently.

Variants and Related Words

• Crammer (n): A person who crams for exams; also, an intensive course or school that prepares students quickly for exams.

  • He went to a crammer to prepare for the university entrance exams.

• Cram-full (adj): Completely full.

  • The shelves were cram-full of old books.

Synonyms

• Study intensively: Bone up, swot (British English), grind.
• Pack tightly: Jam, stuff, pack, squeeze.
• Fill/crowd: Pack, jam, overcrowd.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Cram in: To manage to do or see a lot in a short time.

  • We tried to cram in as many sights as possible during our one-day tour.

• Cram into: To force a lot of people or things into a confined space.

  • How did they cram so many attractions into such a small theme park?

Related Idioms

• A cram session: A period of intense, last-minute studying.

  • The night before the exam turned into a marathon cram session.

• Crammed to the gills: Extremely full or crowded.

  • The subway car was crammed to the gills during rush hour.

Verb

1. prepare (students) hastily for an impending exam
2. study intensively, as before an exam
   • I had to bone up on my Latin verbs before the final exam
3. put something somewhere so that the space is completely filled
   • cram books into the suitcase
4. crowd or pack to capacity
   • the theater was jampacked