overcrowded

1 of 2

adjective

over·​crowd·​ed ˌō-vər-ˈkrau̇-dəd How to pronounce overcrowded (audio)
Synonyms of overcrowdednext
: crowded or filled to excess : having too many people or things
overcrowded streets/cities/classrooms
living in overcrowded conditions
… having an overcrowded space can make it hard for buyers to … visualize their own belongings in the space, said Los Angeles-based designer Francesca Grace.—Jennifer Tzeses
… some 5 million workers commute for up to three hours on trains so overcrowded that there seem to be as many passengers hanging on to the outside of the carriages as there are inside.—Ismail Merchant

overcrowded

2 of 2

past tense and past participle of overcrowd

Examples of overcrowded in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
The terminal is aging, overcrowded and struggling to keep up with modern commuting demands. — Elijah Westbrook, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026 At least 139 migrants, including children, died when an overcrowded boat capsized off Djibouti; at least 84 others remained missing as rescue efforts continued. — Jamey Keaten, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026 The protests began in the Paris suburbs in September amid complaints about overcrowded classrooms, inadequate heating and cooling, aging buildings and teachers who were not replaced when absent. — Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 2026 Protesters say years of underinvestment have left French schools overcrowded, run-down, under-resourced and under-staffed. — Jenni Reid, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for overcrowded

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

from past participle of overcrowd

First Known Use

Adjective

1725, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of overcrowded was in 1725

Rhymes for overcrowded

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Browse Nearby Words

overcrowd
overcrowded
overcrust
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Cite this Entry

“Overcrowded.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overcrowded. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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