English Reference
noun · verb

crew

n. · v.
US /ˈkɹu/ UK /kɹˈuː/ crew UK spelling crewing, crews

  1. 01 B1 Intermediate

    n.a group of people who work together on a ship, aircraft, or a film set.

    n.the group of people who work on and operate a ship, aircraft, or spacecraft, or the technical staff of a film or play.

    Simple

    The captain thanked the crew for their hard work during the long flight.

    In context

    The film crew spent three weeks on location in the desert, enduring harsh conditions to capture the necessary footage for the opening sequence.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate InformalSlang

    n.a group of friends who spend a lot of time together.

    n.a social circle or group of associates, often used to imply a strong sense of loyalty or shared identity.

    Simple

    I'm heading to the cinema with my whole crew tonight.

    In context

    He showed up at the party with his usual crew, a tight-knit group of artists and musicians he had known since university.

  3. 03 B2 Upper Intermediate American English Sport

    n.the sport of racing in long, narrow boats using oars.

    n.the sport of competitive rowing, particularly at the collegiate level in the United States.

    Simple

    She joined the university crew team and practices on the river every morning.

    In context

    The annual crew race between the two rival universities attracts thousands of spectators to the riverbanks each spring.

  4. 04 C1 Advanced Formal Nautical

    v.to work as a member of a crew on a boat or plane.

    v.to serve as a member of a crew; often used with 'on' or 'for'.

    Simple

    He spent the summer crewing on a large yacht in the Mediterranean.

    In context

    After years of training, she was finally invited to crew for one of the most prestigious racing teams in the international circuit.

    Usage

    Often used as an intransitive verb followed by a prepositional phrase.

Usage crew members · crews responded · crew captured

I had the chance to speak to the crew in space as their voyage was nearing its end.

BBC News· 11 Apr 2026

Flight crew dropped the device into a container of water, Wodecki says.

BBC News· 6 Aug 2026

Etymology 1

From Middle English crue, from Old French creue (“an increase, recruit, military reinforcement”), the feminine past participle of creistre (“grow”), from Latin crescere (“to arise, grow”).

Etymology 2

Probably of Brythonic origin. Compare Middle Welsh creu (“pigsty, hovel, stockade”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Latin cresco
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Common
Updated