# stacked

/ˈstækt/ (US) · /stˈækt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/stacked
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. arranged in a pile

adjective · CEFR B1

placed neatly on top of each other in a pile.

For teachers: arranged in an orderly pile or vertical heap.

- The shelves were filled with stacked boxes of old books.
- The warehouse was filled with neatly stacked pallets, each labelled with a destination code for the morning delivery.

### 2. having many skilled members

adjective · CEFR B2 · Informal

having a lot of very talented or strong people in one group.

For teachers: possessing an abundance of talent, skill, or resources, often to a degree that makes competition difficult.

- The other team is totally stacked with professional players this year.
- With three former champions on the roster, the team is so stacked that most analysts consider the upcoming tournament a formality.

### 3. unfairly arranged

adjective · CEFR B2

arranged in a way that is not fair or gives someone an unfair advantage.

For teachers: prearranged or manipulated to ensure a specific, often unfair, outcome.

- He felt like the deck was stacked against him during the job interview.
- The legal system can sometimes feel as though the deck is stacked against those without the means to hire expensive representation.

Usage: Often used in the phrase 'the deck is stacked against someone'.

### 4. muscular

adjective · CEFR C1 · Slang

having a very strong, muscular body.

For teachers: possessing a highly developed or muscular physique.

- He has been going to the gym every day and looks seriously stacked.
- After six months of intensive weightlifting and a strict diet, he returned from the summer break looking remarkably stacked.

## Examples

- The local basketball team is absolutely stacked this year.
- With three former champions on the roster, the lineup is so stacked that the other teams are worried.
- Analysts argue that the league's new salary cap rules will prevent any single franchise from becoming too stacked, ensuring a more balanced and competitive environment for smaller markets.

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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.