English Reference
verb · noun

pack

v. · n.
US /ˈpæk/ UK /pˈæk/ pack UK spelling packs

  1. 01 A2 Elementary

    v.to put clothes and other things into a bag or suitcase for a trip.

    v.to place items into a container, such as a suitcase or box, specifically for transport or storage.

    Simple

    I need to pack my bags tonight because my flight is early tomorrow.

    In context

    She spent the afternoon packing her most fragile belongings into reinforced crates before the movers arrived.

    Pitfall
    I packed my suitcase with my clothes. I packed my clothes into my suitcase.

    While you can pack a suitcase, you pack the items 'into' the container.

  2. 02 B1 Intermediate

    v.to fill a space with as many people or things as possible.

    v.to crowd or compress people or objects into a restricted space.

    Simple

    Hundreds of fans packed the stadium to see the final game.

    In context

    Commuters packed themselves into the narrow train carriage, leaving no room for latecomers to board.

  3. 03 A2 Elementary

    n.a bag that you carry on your back, often for hiking or school.

    n.a container or bundle designed to be carried on the back of a person or animal.

    Simple

    He carried a heavy pack filled with camping gear for the weekend trip.

    In context

    The hikers adjusted their packs to distribute the weight more evenly before beginning the steep ascent.

    backpackknapsackrucksack
  4. 04 B1 Intermediate

    n.a group of animals that live and hunt together, like wolves or dogs.

    n.a collective noun for a group of certain animals, typically canines, that hunt or live as a social unit.

    Simple

    The pack of wolves moved silently through the snowy forest.

    In context

    Biologists tracked the pack for months to understand how the alpha pair maintained social order during the winter.

  5. 05 A2 Elementary

    n.a small container or paper box that holds a set of similar things.

    n.a standard commercial unit or package containing a specific number of similar items.

    Simple

    He bought a pack of gum at the convenience store.

    In context

    The recipe requires a full pack of butter, which is roughly two hundred and fifty grams.

  6. 06 B1 Intermediate British English

    n.a full set of cards used for playing games.

    n.a complete set of playing cards, typically consisting of fifty-two cards in a standard deck.

    Simple

    We sat down to play a game, but we couldn't find a full pack of cards.

    In context

    He shuffled the pack with professional speed before dealing five cards to each player around the table.

  7. 07 B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    n.a group of people who are similar or who work together, often in a bad way.

    n.a group of people associated by a common interest or activity, often used with a negative or dismissive connotation.

    Simple

    A pack of reporters waited outside the courthouse for the celebrity to appear.

    In context

    The politician dismissed the protesters as a pack of troublemakers who didn't represent the local community.

  8. 08 B2 Upper Intermediate Sport

    n.the group of players in a rugby team who play in the scrum.

    n.the collective term for the forwards in a rugby team who participate in the scrum.

    Simple

    The team's pack was much stronger than their opponents' during the scrum.

    In context

    The coach praised the pack for their discipline and physical presence, which allowed the backs to score three tries.

  9. 09 C1 Advanced Technical Medicine

    n.a cloth or bandage used to wrap a part of the body to treat an injury.

    n.a therapeutic wrap or dressing applied to the body, often involving heat or cold.

    Simple

    The doctor told him to put a cold pack on his swollen ankle.

    In context

    The therapist applied a wet pack to the patient's lower back to alleviate the chronic muscle spasms.

Usage pack together

This entry
Level B1 · Intermediate
Frequency Common
Updated