overcrowded

IPA/ˌəʊvəˈkraʊdɪd/
KK[ˈovɚkrˌaʊdɪd]IPA/ˌəʊvərˈkraʊdɪd/

overcrowded — adjective

  • overcrowdedpositive
  • more overcrowdedcomparative
  • most overcrowdedsuperlative

1. so full of people or objects that there is too little space for normal use or sa

1.adjectiveC1
Definition

so full of people or objects that there is too little space for normal use or safe movement

Example

By noon, the clinic was overcrowded, and patients waited in the hall.

be overcrowded + place

Tourists left early because the beach felt overcrowded after breakfast.

linking verb: feel overcrowded

Common collocations
  • overcrowded classroom
  • overcrowded shelter
  • overcrowded train
  • overcrowded prison
Synonyms
  • crowded

    A more general word that does not always suggest a problem or unsafe level.

  • packed

    Often more informal and emphasizes being completely full, especially for a short time.

  • cramped

    Emphasizes the small, uncomfortable space rather than the number of people or things alone.

  • jammed

    Informal and common for roads, trains, and rooms where movement is difficult.

Antonyms
  • spacious

    Suggests there is plenty of room.

  • uncrowded

    Simply means not full of many people.

Grammar Patterns

be overcrowded

overcrowded + noun

Usage Note

Often used for rooms, transport, schools, hospitals, shelters, and prisons. It suggests a real lack of space, not simply that a place has many people in it.

Common Mistakes

The train was very crowd this morning.
The train was very overcrowded this morning.
After 'be', use the adjective form.
The office was busy with too many desks.
The office was overcrowded with too many desks.
'busy' describes activity; 'overcrowded' focuses on excess in the space.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

For adjective/1, overcrowded is stronger than crowded. Crowded simply says that many people or things are in a place. Overcrowded adds that the number is too high for comfort, normal use, or safety. Packed often sounds more informal and suggests a place is completely full, sometimes only for a short period. Cramped focuses more on the space itself feeling small and uncomfortable. Jammed is informal and is common for roads, trains, and rooms where movement becomes difficult. A crowded cafe may still feel lively, but an overcrowded clinic suggests a problem that needs attention.

crowded ↗packed ↗cramped ↗jammed ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • overcrowded city
  • overcrowded room
  • overcrowded hospital
  • overcrowded bus

Adverbs

  • badly overcrowded
  • seriously overcrowded

Phrases

  • become overcrowded
  • feel overcrowded

Prepositions

  • overcrowded with

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

Overcrowded was formed in English from the prefix over-, meaning that something is excessive, and the verb overcrowd. That verb is built from over- and crowd. Crowd goes back to Old English and originally had the idea of pressing or pushing together. The adjective has been recorded since the eighteenth century and still keeps the same basic idea: a place has more people or things in it than it can comfortably hold.