1 B2 informal
To completely fill a venue with people; to attract a capacity audience.
"The band packed out the arena for three consecutive nights, setting a new record."
separable
pack out
B2 informal separable transitive
To fill a venue completely with people; to be attended by a capacity crowd.
In plain English
Fill a place so full of people that there is no room left.
What does "pack out" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 neutral
(Outdoor/hiking) To carry all your rubbish and waste out of a natural area when you leave.
"The trail signs reminded hikers to pack out everything they brought in and leave no trace."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To pack a space outward to its limits — transparent in the crowds sense.
Actually means
Fill a place so full of people that there is no room left.
Usage tip
Often used in passive form: 'the stadium was packed out'. Common in British English for sports, concerts, and performances. Also used in outdoor/camping contexts to mean 'carry all rubbish out of a natural area'.
Words that pair with "pack out"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
stadium venue hall theatre arena concert
How to conjugate "pack out"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
pack out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
packs out
he/she/it
Past simple
packed out
yesterday
Past participle
packed out
have + pp
-ing form
packing out
continuous
Hear "pack out" in the wild
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Other ways to say "pack out"
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