Word
cramped
US/ˈkɹæmpt/
UK/kɹˈæmpt/
Definition
adj. feeling uncomfortably small or crowded because there is not enough space.
adj. describing a space that is uncomfortably restricted or confined; lacking sufficient room for the occupants or contents. Often used predicatively after linking verbs like 'feel' or 'seem'.
Examples
“The small office feels very cramped with four desks.”
“We spent six hours in a cramped bus with no air conditioning and very little legroom.”
“Living in such cramped quarters for the duration of the winter required the crew to maintain strict discipline to avoid interpersonal friction.”
Examples
simple
“The small office feels very cramped with four desks.”
contextual
“We spent six hours in a cramped bus with no air conditioning and very little legroom.”
complex
“Living in such cramped quarters for the duration of the winter required the crew to maintain strict discipline to avoid interpersonal friction.”
Usage
Commonly used both attributively before a noun and predicatively after a linking verb.
Real-World Examples
“Sitting in his cramped Delhi home, Ishamuddin Khan can still make a rope appear to rise into the air.” “Thirty-three of his cellmates died in the cramped conditions in the prison in Minna, the capital of Nigeria's Niger state - and four died later in hospital.” - Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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