Definition of crowd into

The phrase "crowd into" is a phrasal verb that's commonly used to express the idea of people moving or gathering closely or tightly together in a confined space or area. The origin of this expression can be traced back to the early 19th century, specifically the year 1816. The verb "crowd" has been in use since the late 14th century, meaning "press closely together" or "throng." It derives from the Middle English crueden, which came from the Old Northern French crudres, meaning "throng, flock." In its earliest known use around 1325, it appeared as the Middle English word crouden, and over time, it developed into the modern English word "crowd." The preposition "into" refers to entering a specific location or space. The use of "into" to express the concept of entering since the mid-15th century ultimately developed into a phrasal verb, "crowd into," in the mid-19th century. This phrasal verb, in turn, came from the merger of the words "crowd" and "into," which evolved into a single expression. The evolving language guided this phrase to be used as a phrasal verb, which changed the meaning of "crowd" and "into" in this particular context. This grammatical construction is used to emphasize the idea of a large number of people coming together in close proximity or entering a particular area or space. Today, "crowd into" is a widely popular and frequently used expression worldwide.