overcrowd

Everyday

1. To put or let too many people or things into a place, so it is too full. tree →
2. (overcrowded, adjective) Too full of people or things to be comfortable or safe. tree →

In the lessons

Used about buses, trains, classrooms, cities, prisons, fish tanks and gardens. In science, overcrowded plants or animals compete for food, light and space and may get ill. In safety, an overcrowded place can be dangerous because people cannot move or get out. Often in the form "overcrowded".

Examples

• Do not overcrowd the fish tank, or the fish will get sick. tree →
• The bus was so overcrowded that we had to stand. tree →
• If you overcrowd the seedlings, none of them will grow well. tree →
• The city became overcrowded as more people moved in. tree →
• Our classroom feels overcrowded when two classes share it. tree →
• Too many shops overcrowd the little high street. tree →

Note

Regular verb; the adjective "overcrowded" is used much more than the verb. Spelled as one word. In maths, a place is overcrowded when the number of people is more than the number it is made for: a lift for 8 people with 11 inside is 3 over the limit.