cram
/kræm/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- 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
- prepare (students) hastily for an impending exam
- study intensively, as before an exam
- I had to bone up on my Latin verbs before the final exam
- put something somewhere so that the space is completely filled
- cram books into the suitcase
- crowd or pack to capacity
- the theater was jampacked