overcrowding
Intermediate (B1)
IPA: /ˌoʊvərˈkraʊdɪŋ/
KK: /oʊvərˈkraʊdɪŋ/
noun
Definition
The situation when a place has too many people or things in it, making it uncomfortable or unsafe.
Example
The overcrowding in the city led to increased traffic and pollution.
Conversation
Have you noticed the overcrowding at the park lately?
Yeah, it's getting really difficult to find a good spot to sit.
I wonder if they should limit the number of visitors to reduce the overcrowding.
That might help, but it could also upset a lot of people who love going there.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
congestion
crowding
overpopulation
Antonyms
spaciousness
emptiness
vacancy
verb
Definition
To fill a space with too many people or things, making it uncomfortable or unsafe.
Example
The concert was so popular that it led to overcrowding in the venue.
Tense Forms
Past: overcrowded
Past Participle: overcrowded
Conversation
Have you noticed how we're overcrowding the café lately?
Yeah, it gets packed, especially on weekends.
I think we should try visiting during the week to avoid the overcrowding.
Root Explanation
Overcrowding → It is formed from "over-" (meaning excessively) and "crowd" (from Old English *crūdan*, meaning to press or throng together) and "-ing" (a suffix indicating an action or process). The word "overcrowding" means the process of having too many people or things in a space, leading to excessive density.
Memory Tip
Think of 'over' meaning excessively and 'crowd' meaning to press together. This helps you remember that overcrowding refers to having too many people pressed into a space.
Visually Confused Words
No commonly confused words.