overcrowding

verb

1. (form-of, gerund, participle, present)present participle and gerund of overcrowd

noun

1. (countable, uncountable)The situation where a space holds more occupants than it can comfortably accommodate.

   “[…] there are sublettings, overcrowdings of lands, clearances, and emigrations going on; and want of employment, with consequent destitution and wretchedness is the complaint of the majority of the inhabitants.”

   “An extra rush-hour train has eased overcrowding of the former 5.39 p.m. to Salisbury; this now leaves at 5.43 and an additional electric service to Alton departs at 5.39 p.m.”

   “Department for Transport statistics show that since 2010 overcrowding in the morning peak at 11 cities has risen by 48%, to reach 280,000 standing passengers daily.”

   “Climbers have warned of overcrowding on K2 — the world’s second highest mountain and one of its deadliest — after a sherpa took video of queues snaking towards the summit.”

   “Stops at Fareham, Havant and Chichester add to the cattle-like conditions aboard, although as the door nearest me is blocked by prams and suitcases, my coach is protected from the worst overcrowding.”