pack

When the word "pack" is used as a verb, it means to put things together or to put something inside a container:

• Jennifer packs a lunch before going to school.
• Bill packed his suitcase before leaving for Florida.
• Let’s pack up and leave.
• The stadium is packed with soccer fans.
• Fishermen pack the fish they catch with ice to keep them fresh.
• When shipping breakable items, you have to pack them with styrofoam to prevent them from breaking.

The word "packed" is an adjective:

• The President made a speech before a packed auditorium.
• Stores are usually packed right before Christmas.
• The theater is packed. There aren’t any seats available.
• Are you all packed and ready to go? (all packed = prepared with items for a trip)

When the word "pack" is used a noun, it refers to a group of things or people:

• Jane bought a pack of gum at the drugstore.
• These items come six to a pack.
• We need a new pack of cards. (pack of cards = a deck of cards)
• The children behaved like a pack of wild animals at the birthday party.
• A pack of wolves surrounded and killed the calf.

Recently, the word "packing" has been used when a person has a gun.

• Is he packing? (Is he carrying a gun.)
• He’s packing heat. (heat = a gun)
• The police thought the suspect was packing, so when he reached for something, they shot him.

The bus is packed with lugggage and passengers.

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This page was first published on September 16, 2013. it was updated on September 22, 2016.