were crowded

USAGE SUMMARY

"were crowded" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe a situation where a space or area is filled with people or things, often implying a lack of space. Example: The streets were crowded with tourists during the festival. Alternative expressions include "were packed" and "were filled."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

Prayer groups were crowded.

The New York Times

Most were crowded.

The New York Times - Books

The subways were crowded.

The New York Times

Events were crowded.

The New York Times

Mainstream services were crowded out.

The Guardian

The airports were crowded and shut.

The New Yorker

The shops were crowded with Saturday shoppers.

The Economist

All basements in the city were crowded.

Independent

The tables were crowded with laughing aristocrats.

The New Yorker

We were crowded in the cabin.

The New Yorker

They were crowded with prisoners of War.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "were crowded" to vividly describe situations where spaces are filled beyond comfortable capacity, emphasizing the lack of room or ease of movement. For instance, "The streets were crowded with tourists during the summer festival."

Common error

Avoid using "were crowded" with singular nouns. "Were" is a plural verb, so ensure the subject is plural. Instead of "The room were crowded", say "The rooms were crowded" or "The room was crowded".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were crowded" functions as a verb phrase, specifically a past participle construction using the auxiliary verb "were" and the past participle "crowded". This structure typically describes a state of being where a place or object is filled with people or items, as exemplified by the Ludwig AI examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Wiki

15%

Encyclopedias

12%

Less common in

Science

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "were crowded" is a versatile and common verb phrase used to describe situations where a space is filled beyond its comfortable capacity. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage in various contexts, particularly in news media, encyclopedias, and wikis. When using the phrase, ensure subject-verb agreement and choose synonyms like "were packed" or "were teeming with" for nuanced descriptions. Overall, "were crowded" is a reliable way to convey the state of being full or congested, providing a clear picture of the described scene.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were packed

Focuses on the intensity of the crowding, implying a tight fit.

were overflowing

Suggests a capacity exceeded, with people or things spilling out.

were overfull

Highlights that the capacity was exceeded by the crowd.

were teeming with

Implies an abundance or profusion of something.

were jammed

Emphasizes the obstruction and difficulty of movement due to crowding.

were thronged

Highlights the presence of a large, moving crowd.

were congested

Focuses on the blockage or impedance of flow due to crowding.

were swarming with

Suggests a large, active group moving around.

were packed like sardines

Uses a simile to vividly describe the extreme closeness and discomfort of the crowd.

were mobbed

Implies a disorderly and potentially overwhelming crowd.

FAQs

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

Use "were crowded" to describe a place or space filled with a large number of people or objects. For example, "The trains were crowded during rush hour" or "The shelves were crowded with books".

What are some alternatives to "were crowded"?

You can use alternatives like "were packed", "were overflowing", or "were teeming with" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "was crowded" instead of "were crowded"?

The correctness depends on the subject. "Was crowded" is used with singular subjects (e.g., "The room was crowded"), while "were crowded" is used with plural subjects (e.g., "The streets were crowded").

What is the difference between "were crowded" and "were congested"?

"Were crowded" generally indicates a high density of people or objects in a space. "Were congested" specifically implies that movement is impeded due to the high density. The streets were crowded suggests many people are present, while The streets "were congested" indicates traffic is slow or stopped.