CROWD OUT

Urban Car Dwelling

"When ambitions and desires excessively flourish, they may crowd out wisdom and reasoning, leaving ambitions blind to true fulfillment."

📖 Definition

To crowd out means to displace, overshadow, or push others aside due to overwhelming presence or dominance, often in terms of space, attention, or resources.

Examples in context

📖 Definition

To crowd out means to displace, overshadow, or push others aside due to overwhelming presence or dominance, often in terms of space, attention, or resources.

📝 Grammar Info

Separable
No
The phrase cannot be split; it must stay together.
Register
Neutral
Can be used in both casual and formal contexts without changing meaning.
Transitive
Yes
Crowd out requires an object to act upon, signifying what is being displaced.

📊 Conjugation Table

Tense Form Example
Present Simple crowd out Rising costs can crowd out smaller competitors in the market.
Past Simple crowded out Traditional arts were crowded out by modern influences.
Present Continuous crowding out The new strategies are crowding out old business models.
Present Perfect have crowded out Luxury shops have crowded out local vendors over the decades.

💡 When to Use

In a competitive setting
Use when one entity displaces another due to superior influence or resources, seen often in market dynamics.
Example: "Big companies often crowd out smaller ones in a saturated industry."
Discussing cultural changes
Apply to describe how dominant cultures or practices overtake localized or traditional ones within a community.
Example: "Western music is crowding out traditional sounds in many countries."
When describing physical space
Use when describing how new developments or entities physically displace others from an area or location.
Example: "High-rise apartments are crowding out older townhouses in the downtown area."

⚠️ Common Mistakes

Incorrect verb tense
❌ Wrong: The new mall is crowd out the park.
✅ Correct: The new mall is crowding out the park.
💡 Tip: Use 'crowding out' for ongoing actions.
Using with incorrect preposition
❌ Wrong: Overdevelopment crowded of the green spaces.
✅ Correct: Overdevelopment crowded out the green spaces.
💡 Tip: 'Out' is the correct preposition to use with 'crowd.'
Missing object
❌ Wrong: The large buildings have crowded out.
✅ Correct: The large buildings have crowded out small businesses.
💡 Tip: Always specify what is being crowded out.
Practice

CROWD OUT - IN PRACTICE

Study Method Proposal

  1. Listen and repeat the audio as many times as needed to improve your pronunciation
  2. Use the audio as a dictation exercise, trying to write what you hear and understand
  3. Create a new sentence following the structure of the example sentences

Examples in Context

  • 1
    Listen to example

    Growing tech industries are crowding out traditional manufacturing jobs in many regions.

    Urban Car Dwelling
  • 2
    Listen to example

    Suburban expansion has crowded out much of the local wildlife habitat.

    Urban Car Dwelling
  • 3
    Listen to example

    Rapid urban redevelopment is crowding out community centers and local shops.

    Urban Car Dwelling

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

displace overshadow

Antonyms

accommodate

Quick Check

Complete the sentence with the correct phrasal verb:

"The large franchise store managed to ___ many local shops."

crowd over
crowd out
crowd in
crowd away

In Context

In the late 19th century, New York City witnessed a transformation amidst a wave of European immigrants. Ellis Island teemed with new arrivals, each carving out a niche in the crowded urban tapestry. The influx of people began to crowd out the city's existing cultural norms. For instance, Little Italy emerged, its distinct Italian customs overshadowing other ethnic communities that started to feel crowded out. Tenements swelled with families, their traditions gradually crowding out the lifestyle of longstanding American residents in nearby neighborhoods. Tension emerged as the old and new vied for space, leading to a sociocultural blend that redefined the American identity. By the early 20th century, the melting pot narrative began to solidify. Though some feared that too many cultures might crowd out the American ideals, others celebrated the rich diversity. The city's development was a testament to multicultural growth, exemplifying how varieties of cultures can coexist and influence one another. In the end, though some customs were absorbed and others faded, New York City's vibrant pluralism was cemented. Immigrant life enriched the cityscape, creating a unique American identity where old roots were not merely crowded out, but rather integrated into a new, dynamic society.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions about Crowd Out

What is the origin of crowd out?

+
The phrasal verb 'crowd out' originates from the concept of a physical crowd pushing out or overtaking a space or presence, dating back to the dynamics in economic and urban contexts as early as the 19th century.

Can crowd out be used in formal and informal contexts?

+
Yes, 'crowd out' is neutral in register, allowing it to be used effectively in both formal and informal settings. The context, rather than formality, dictates its application.

What is the difference between crowd out and displace?

+
'Crowd out' implies displacement due to an overwhelming presence or influence, often gradual. Whereas 'displace' can denote direct or forceful removal, not necessarily by volume.

Related Phrasal Verbs

Explore more phrasal verbs in our dictionary:

squeeze outpush outdisplaceforce outedge out
Browse All Urban Car Dwelling Phrasal Verbs
Urban Car Dwelling Phrasal Verbs - WeeklyCross
Alessandra Nóbrega
About the Author

Alessandra Nóbrega

History teacher who fell in love with English! This passion led me to specialize in languages and work on bilingual education projects. With 37 years in education, I believe learning should be meaningful – not just memorization.

Learn more about my journey



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