pack

PAK/pæk/

Verbpacks, packing, packed

Noun pluralpacks

41 meanings of pack

Practice

1
put in a bagverbtransitive
To put things into a bag, box, or case so you can carry or store them.
Like fitting puzzle pieces tightly into a box so nothing shifts.
She packed her clothes into a small suitcase.
I always pack the heavy books at the bottom of the box.
UsageSay pack things into a bag or box.
Oppositeunpack
Note
2
fill to burstingverbtransitive
To fill something completely by crowding things tightly inside.
Like filling a jar with sand until there is no empty space left.
Fans packed the stadium hours before the concert started.
They pack the warehouse with boxes every holiday season.
UsageSay people pack a place, or a place is packed.
Similarcram, crowd, fill, jam, stuff
Oppositeempty, clear
Note
3
packet for salenouncountable
A small box or packet of things sold together, like cigarettes or gum.
He bought a pack of batteries for the remote.
We went through two packs of paper this week.
UsageSay a pack of gum or a pack of batteries.
4
fit in a lotverbtransitive
To fit a lot of something, like power or useful things, into something small or short.
These tiny speakers pack a lot of sound.
The short book packs a lot of useful facts into just fifty pages.
UsageSay pack a lot into something small or short, or pack in a lot. It is often praise.
Similarcram, squeeze
5
nouncountable
A bundle of things tied up to be carried, often on your back.
Like a backpack stuffed full and strapped on for a long walk.
The hiker lifted his heavy pack onto his shoulders.
Each mule carried a pack loaded with supplies.
Similarbackpack, rucksack, knapsack, bundle, load
Note
6
nouncountable
A group of similar things or people gathered together.
A small pack of friends walked home from school together.
He led the pack of runners by a wide margin.
UsageOften in phrases like ahead of the pack and lead the pack.
Similarbunch, group
7
animal groupnouncountable
A group of wolves, dogs, or other animals that hunt or live together.
The pack moved silently through the snow toward the herd.
Wolves in a pack share the work of raising their young.
UsageSay a pack of wolves or dogs. Wolves hunt in packs.
8
hot or cold padnouncountable
A bag or pad filled with something cold or warm that you hold on your body to ease pain or swelling.
Hold a cold pack on the bruise for ten minutes.
The nurse gave him a warm pack to hold on his sore neck.
UsageSay ice pack or cold pack. You hold it on the sore place.
Similarcompress
Note
9
solid massverbintransitive
To press tightly together into a firm, solid mass.
Like wet sand that holds its shape when you squeeze it.
Wet sand will pack tightly, but dry sand just falls apart.
The loose dirt packed down after the heavy rain.
UsageSay wet sand packs tightly or dirt packs down.
Similarcompact, cake, clump, consolidate
10
nouncountable
A large number of things or people.
Like a big pile of things coming at you all at the same time.
He told a whole pack of lies to stay out of trouble.
That story he told us was a pack of lies.
UsageMostly in a pack of lies. It sounds rude about the things it names.
Similarhost, heap, load, mass

Less common meanings

11
playing cardsnouncountable
A full set of playing cards.
He shuffled the pack before dealing the cards.
A standard pack holds fifty-two cards.
UsageAlso called a deck of cards.
12
Cub Scoutsnouncountable
A group of young Cub Scouts who meet and do activities together.
Like a small team of young scouts who do things together.
Her son joined the local Cub Scout pack last fall.
The pack meets every Tuesday at the community center.
13
sea icenouncountable
A wide stretch of floating pieces of ice pushed together at sea.
The ship could not break through the thick pack.
Seals rested along the broken edge of the pack.
Note
14
carry a gunverbslangtransitive
To carry a gun or other weapon on your body.
Some guards pack a gun while they are on duty.
He was packing a pistol under his coat that night.
UsagePeople say packing heat for carrying a gun.
Similarcarry, tote
15
send awayverbtransitive
To send someone away, often suddenly or firmly, sometimes with their things.
His parents packed him off to summer camp.
They pack the kids off to school each morning.
UsageSay pack someone off to a place: packed him off to camp.
Similarsend, ship, bundle, dispatch
Note
16
leave quicklyverbdatedintransitive
To leave in a hurry.
Poor Stella must pack off to town.
1723, Jonathan Swift, Stella at Wood-Park
You shall pack, / And never more darken my doors again.
1842, Alfred Tennyson, Dora
Similarleave, depart, decamp
Note
17
gangnouncountable
A group of people joined together to do something bad.
A pack of thieves had been working the train station.
The whole pack was arrested after the robbery.
UsageSay a pack of thieves. It sounds unfriendly.
Similargang, band, crew, ring, mob
Note
18
load an animalverbtransitive
To put a heavy load onto an animal such as a horse or mule.
Like loading bags onto a horse's back before a trip.
The miners pack their horses each morning before heading up the trail.
They packed the donkeys with food and tools for the journey.
Similarload
Oppositeunload
19
verbfigurativelytransitive
To load someone down with worries or heavy demands.
our thighs packed with wax, our mouths with honey
c. 1596, William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Fourth,. Epilogue.”
Similarburden, load, saddle
Oppositerelieve, unburden
20
seal tightverbtransitive
To seal something tightly so that air, water, or steam cannot get in or out.
Like stuffing cloth around a pipe so no water can leak through.
Plumbers pack the joint with material to stop any leaks.
He packed the old valve so no steam could escape.
Similarseal, caulk, plug
Note
21
rugby forwardsnouncountable
In rugby, the team's forwards: the players who form the scrum.
Like the group of players who push forward together as one unit.
Their pack dominated the scrum throughout the match.
A strong pack can win the game for its team.
Similarforwards
Note
22
face masknounUKcountablebritish
A cream or paste you leave on your face or skin for a short time to clean or care for it.
She smoothed a pack over her face and waited for it to dry.
This clay pack leaves my skin feeling soft and clean.
UsagePeople say face pack or mud pack. A face mask is much the same.
Similarmask
Note
23
block a shotverbslangtransitive
To block another player's shot, usually in basketball.
Like swatting a fly out of the air before it gets to you.
He can pack almost any shot near the rim.
She packed his layup hard against the backboard.
Similarblock, swat, reject, stuff
24
fill a committeeverbtransitive
To unfairly fill a group with people chosen to give the result you want.
Like choosing only your own friends as referees so your team always wins.
Critics accused the mayor of trying to pack the committee with his friends.
They packed the board with loyal supporters before the vote.
UsageSay pack a committee with friends.
Similarstack
Note
25
cheat at cardsverbtransitive
To secretly arrange the cards so that you will win.
Like setting up a game in secret so you always get the best pieces.
He tried to pack the deck before dealing the hand.
She packed the cards so she would draw the best ones.
Similarstack, rig
Note
26
rigverbobsoletetransitive
To plan or arrange something in a dishonest, unfair way.
Similarrig, fix, manipulate, engineer, contrive
27
gang upverbobsoleteintransitive
To team up with others for a dishonest or wrong purpose.
This naughty man / Shall face to face be brought to Margaret, / Who, I believe, was pack'd in all this wrong, / Hired to it by your brother.
1598, William Shakespeare, “Much Adoe about Nothing”
Similarcollude, conspire, connive, scheme
Note
28
flock togetherverbintransitive
To come together into a herd, flock, or school, the way animals do.
Like birds that gather into one big flock before flying south.
Wolves pack together when they hunt large prey.
The small fish packed tightly as the shark drew near.
UsageSay animals pack together.
Similargather, congregate, flock, herd, bunch
Oppositescatter, disperse
Note
29
red balls (snooker)nouncountable
In games like snooker, a tight bunch of balls close together.
Like a bunch of marbles all clumped together in one spot.
He aimed to split the pack with his next shot.
The reds stayed in a tight pack near the black.
Similarcluster
Note
30
noun
A group of the birds called knots.
31
noun
A bundle of wooden pieces used to make a barrel.
32
noun
A stack of iron sheets rolled flat together.
33
noun
Sheets wrapped around a sick person as an old water treatment.
34
nounslang
A person of bad character.
35
noun
In roller derby, the biggest bunch of blockers, with both sides mixed, close together.
36
verb
To wrap a sick person in sheets and many covers as a treatment.
37
verb
To send several telegraph messages together to save money.
38
verbdialectalUSWestern
To carry things in bundles on people or animals.
39
verbslang
Of a man, to have a big penis.
40
verb
To wear something in your pants so you look more male.
41
verb
In rugby, to play well together as a group of forwards, especially in the scrum.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of pack apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 3, 5–8, 10–13, 17, 21–22, 29

From an old English or old Dutch word for a bundle, perhaps both, from an older Germanic word.

Checked 6 Nov 2026 · 1 fact

The proposed earlier forms ultimately derive from an older Germanic word. en.wiktionary.org

Meanings 1–2, 4, 9, 14–16, 18–20, 23–28

From the noun 'pack' (see above), meaning to make into a bundle.

Checked 6 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

The verb derives from the noun pack. en.wiktionary.org
The historical verb meant to make into a bundle or pack. en.wiktionary.org