# crew

/ˈkɹu/ (US) · /kɹˈuː/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/crew
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. working group

noun · CEFR B1

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

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

- The captain thanked the crew for their hard work during the long flight.
- The film crew spent three weeks on location in the desert, enduring harsh conditions to capture the necessary footage for the opening sequence.

### 2. group of friends

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal · Slang

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

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

- I'm heading to the cinema with my whole crew tonight.
- He showed up at the party with his usual crew, a tight-knit group of artists and musicians he had known since university.

### 3. rowing sport

noun · CEFR B2 · American English

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

For teachers: the sport of competitive rowing, particularly at the collegiate level in the United States.

- She joined the university crew team and practices on the river every morning.
- The annual crew race between the two rival universities attracts thousands of spectators to the riverbanks each spring.

### 4. to work as a member

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

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

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

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

## Examples

- The ship's crew prepared for the long journey.
- The film crew arrived at dawn to set up the lighting and cameras for the first scene.
- While the captain is responsible for navigation, the efficiency of the entire voyage depends on the seamless coordination of the deck crew during heavy storms.

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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.