# cramped

/ˈkɹæmpt/ (US) · /kɹˈæmpt/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/cramped
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

feeling uncomfortably small or crowded because there is not enough space.

For teachers: 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.

## Usage notes

- Commonly used both attributively before a noun and predicatively after a linking verb.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.