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pack in

B1 informal separable both
In simple words

Stop doing something you do regularly, or fill a place with lots of people.

Literal meaning: To pack things so they go into a space — the idiomatic 'quit' sense requires a conceptual leap.

Meanings

1 B1 idiomatic informal

(British, informal) To stop doing something, especially a job, habit, or relationship.

"She finally packed in her job at the call centre and went back to college."

Grammar: separable
2 B1 neutral

To fit a large number of people or things tightly into a space or schedule.

"The organisers managed to pack in over 500 people for the launch event."

Grammar: separable
3 B2 idiomatic informal

To attract large audiences; to draw crowds.

"The new show has been packing in audiences every night since it opened."

Grammar: separable
Usage notes

The 'quit' sense is primarily British English and is quite colloquial. The 'attract crowds' sense (e.g. 'the concert packed them in') is used in both British and American English.

Commonly used with

job smoking relationship crowds people audiences

Forms

Base
pack in
I/you/we/they
3rd person
packs in
he/she/it
Past simple
packed in
yesterday
Past participle
packed in
have + pp
-ing form
packing in
continuous

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Synonyms

quit give up jack in stop abandon cram in

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