stacked

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "stacked" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is arranged in a pile or to refer to a situation where items are layered or accumulated. Example: "The boxes were stacked neatly in the corner of the room, ready for shipment."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The lights are low and atmospheric, fairy lights blink around a bar stacked with wine bottles.

The Guardian - Travel

Since then, the indignities have stacked up at such a rate it feels like a tragicomedy that Blackpool's motto on their club crest is "Progress".

The Guardian - Sport

What the police discovered when they raided the three-bedroom flat in spring 2011, however, had more of a Young British Artists vibe: homemade shelves stacked with hundreds of juice cartons and tinned food with a 1980s sell-by date.

The Guardian

The odds are stacked in the city's favour: the local produce is magnificent with peachy fresh seafood – Dungeness crabs in season and Hog Island oysters.

The Guardian - Travel

The open shelves are stacked neatly with "museum quality" (non-acidic and chemical-free) cardboard boxes.

The Guardian

"Even the majority of Republicans believe that the deck is stacked against the people in this country," Devine said.

The Guardian

"It's fair to say that if you look across the country, the deck is still stacked in favor of those already at the top," she said.

The Guardian

Both the opinion pollsters and the Washington political strategists were humbled on Tuesday night, however, when the Tea Party once again showed its capacity to upset the carefully stacked apple cart.

The Guardian

For instance, they stacked the cards against themselves by purposefully picking a very hot year to start the analysis and a cool year to terminate the study (1998 and 2012, respectively).

The Guardian

Many people have the odds stacked against them from the outset, their class of origin holding them back in too many ways to list here, choking the vast potential everyone possesses.

The Guardian - Opinion

Shoeboxes full of passports, wads of bankcards and trays of wallets are stacked on the floor, while an impressive pile of feather jewellery sits on the side.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "stacked" to describe abstract concepts like odds or challenges, ensure the context clearly indicates an imbalance or disadvantage.

Common error

Avoid using "stacked" in contexts where a simple linear arrangement or sequence is intended. The word implies more than just arrangement; it suggests a concentration or accumulation.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "stacked" is as a past participle used as an adjective, modifying a noun to describe its arrangement or state. As seen in Ludwig, "stacked" often indicates that items are arranged in a pile or layered fashion.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "stacked" is a versatile term primarily functioning as an adjective. It commonly describes items arranged in a pile or to indicate unfair advantage. Ludwig's analysis, aligns to confirm that it's considered grammatically sound and appropriate. While generally neutral, its figurative use often carries a negative connotation, implying imbalance or unfairness. Key contexts include news, business, and general descriptive writing, offering a wide spectrum of application while always conveying a sense of accumulation or arrangement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

piled high

Emphasizes the height and volume of the stack.

arranged neatly

Focuses on the orderliness and precision of the arrangement.

heaped up

Suggests a less organized and more abundant accumulation.

layered

Highlights the arrangement in successive levels or tiers.

accumulated

Implies a gradual gathering or increase over time.

overloaded

Indicates that something is filled beyond its capacity.

filled to the brim

Emphasizes the fullness and completeness of the filling.

congested

Suggests an excessive accumulation that hinders movement or flow.

jammed

Implies a tight and often disorderly packing of items.

burdened

Focuses on the weight and oppressiveness of the accumulation.

FAQs

How can I use "stacked" in a sentence?

You can use "stacked" to describe items arranged in a pile, as in "The books were stacked on the table". It can also describe situations where advantages or disadvantages are accumulated, like "The odds were stacked against them".

What's a good alternative to using "stacked"?

Alternatives include "piled high" for physical arrangements or "arranged neatly" when orderliness is important. For figurative use, consider "odds are against".

Is it correct to say "the deck is stacked"?

Yes, "the deck is stacked" is a common idiom meaning the situation is unfairly arranged to favor one side. Hillary Clinton used this phrase saying that "the deck is still stacked in favor of those at the top".

What does it mean for the "cards to be stacked" in someone's favor?

If the "cards are stacked" in someone's favor, it means they have a significant advantage, often unfairly so. This is similar to saying the "odds are stacked" in their favor.