The phrasal verb "crowd in" is used primarily in informal circumstances and can be applied in various contexts where the focus is on elements starting to fill a space or overwhelming a person with their presence, often figuratively. Though not overly common, it's employed to describe situations like thoughts or memories flooding one's mind, such as "As the deadline approached, worries began to crowd in." In physical contexts, it might describe people or objects accumulating in a confined space, albeit less frequently than the related "crowd around" or "crowd into." It conveys a sense of pressing proximity or dense occupation, imparting a feeling of being surrounded or filled in densely by multiple entities. Overall, "crowd in" underscores the idea of an overwhelming or oppressive buildup and is generally avoided in formal or technical writing, where more precise verbs would take precedence.
B2
UpperIntermediate
1. To move or gather closely into a particular area, often causing the space to become filled or overcrowded.
As the train arrived, people began to crowd in, filling the carriage completely.
We crowded in around the table to hear the speaker better.
When the rain started, everyone crowded in under the small tent.