Slightly crowded

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Slightly crowded" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a place or situation that has a moderate number of people or items, indicating that it is not overly full but still has some level of congestion. Example: "The café was slightly crowded during the lunch hour, but we managed to find a table."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

It's bigger than the rest, but it still feels slightly crowded.

The New York Times - Magazine

The school capped its enrollment at just under 300 years ago, Ms. Schwartz added, and the slightly crowded space is what they now "thrive" in.

The New York Times

Yet one convex side at least serenely reflects your familiar self and about half the works in the show on an expanded plane, granting the slightly crowded installation a startling spaciousness.

The New York Times - Arts

Only do this in a slightly crowded area, if it's just you two in the hall, it seems a little weird.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

The links between the nodes identify those users who have mentioned another user in a tweet, using the @name syntax; the line widths increase based on the number of mentions but given that the graph is ever-so-slightly crowded this isn't that useful at this time.

Harvard University

The links between the accounts identify those users who have mentioned another user in a tweet, using the @name syntax; the line widths increase based on the number of mentions but given that the graph is ever-so-slightly crowded this isn't that useful at this time.

Harvard University

After enjoying the water, and of course taking lots of pictures, we decided to take a break as the pool became slightly more crowded with a group of kids.

HuffPost

Late spring and early fall offer the best weather; late fall is slightly less crowded.

WikiHow

If you aren't tied to a school schedule, head to Anaheim in late August for slightly smaller crowds, or push your trip back until after Labor Day to take advantage of the less-busy fall season.

Huffington Post

Ms. Sigman took her 13-year-old daughter, Victoria, to the orthodontist she works for, Dr. Jess Kane, last year to see if something could be done about the slightly protruding teeth crowding her daughter's mouth.

The New York Times - Health

Montrose is a less-crowded party beach with a slightly older crowd.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "slightly crowded" when you want to convey that a space is not empty but not overwhelmingly full. This phrase is suitable for describing various environments, from rooms to events.

Common error

Avoid relying too heavily on "slightly" in all your descriptions. While it's useful for adding nuance, overuse can make your writing sound weak. Consider stronger, more specific adjectives when appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "slightly crowded" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun to describe the degree of crowding. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is used to describe the degree of crowding, meaning that is correct and usable in written English. It specifies that the noun is not completely empty, but also not overly full.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

25%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "slightly crowded" is a grammatically sound and frequently used adjectival phrase, as Ludwig AI confirms, designed to convey a nuanced description of a space's occupancy. The examples, as shown by Ludwig, span across news, academic, and informal contexts. While the register is generally neutral, you might consider more formal alternatives such as "moderately congested" for business or scientific settings. Be mindful of overusing the term "slightly" to maintain a strong and varied writing style.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Somewhat packed

Replaces "crowded" with "packed", implying a slightly higher density.

A bit busy

Uses "busy" instead of "crowded", focusing on activity level rather than physical space.

Moderately congested

Employs the more formal term "congested", suggesting a degree of obstruction or blockage.

Slightly congested

Swaps the word crowded with congested, maintaining a similar degree of formality.

Reasonably full

Focuses on the space being occupied rather than the presence of a crowd.

Somewhat full

Similar to reasonably full, but with less formal tone.

A little cramped

Shifts the focus to the feeling of confinement due to the crowd.

Not too empty

Emphasizes the absence of emptiness, implying some level of occupancy.

Lightly populated

Uses "populated" to describe the presence of people, suggesting a sparse crowd.

Somewhat overflowing

Suggests that the space is approaching maximum capacity.

FAQs

How can I use "slightly crowded" in a sentence?

You can use "slightly crowded" to describe a place that has some people in it, but isn't packed, for example: "The cafe was "slightly crowded" during lunchtime, but we found a table."

What's a more formal way to say "slightly crowded"?

A more formal alternative to "slightly crowded" could be "moderately congested", which is suitable for professional contexts.

What can I say instead of "slightly crowded" when describing a room?

Alternatives for describing a room include "somewhat full", "a bit busy", or "lightly populated", depending on the level of people present.

Is it ever incorrect to use "slightly crowded"?

While grammatically correct, "slightly crowded" may not be the best choice if you want to emphasize a more extreme level of congestion. In such cases, consider alternatives like "very crowded" or "packed".