WordGarden.iocrew
B2Pronunciation
UK
- /krˈuː/
US
- /ˈkru/
Meanings
Noun
a group of people who work together, especially on a vehicle or production
a group of friends or close associates
(informal)a gang or organized group, especially one involved in crime
More meaningsFewer meanings
a rowing team or the sport of rowing
Verb
to serve as crew or provide workers for something
Beyond the definition
A crew isn't just for sailors on a ship anymore! The word once meant the people who run a ship, but today it can describe many kinds of groups working together, especially on a specific job. A film shoot needs a camera crew, a lighting crew, and a sound crew. Construction sites have crews building homes and skyscrapers. Planes have a flight crew, and even astronauts traveling to space are part of a crew.
You can also use it in a more casual way to mean your close group of friends: "I'm going out with my crew tonight." Think of it like this: if you're all rowing in the same direction toward a common goal, you're a crew. The word is often traced back to Old French, linked to the idea of "increase" or "reinforcement," and it later came to mean a group gathered for a shared purpose. You might even hear the captain say, "All hands on deck!" to call the crew into action.
The word "crew" has a rich history rooted in seafaring, but its meaning has broadened considerably over time. Traditionally, a crew was the team of people required to operate a ship—from the captain and officers down to the sailors who handled the ropes and sails. Think of classic tales like Moby Dick or Treasure Island; those stories are full of dedicated crews braving the high seas.
However, today "crew" is used much more broadly to describe any group of people working together on a specific task or project. A film crew isn't sailing a ship; they're filming a movie! A construction crew builds infrastructure, and an ambulance crew responds to emergencies. The key element is collaboration—a crew works as a single unit toward a shared objective.
The term often implies a degree of skill and specialization within the group. Each member of the crew has a specific role to play, contributing their expertise to achieve the overall goal. You might hear about a "skeleton crew," meaning the minimum number of people needed to keep a business or ship running, or the "flight crew," referring specifically to those operating an aircraft. Whether it's navigating treacherous waters or bringing a creative vision to life, a crew represents a dedicated group of individuals united by purpose and skill.
In everyday speech, "crew" can also be informal: it can mean the people you usually hang out with or the group you belong to ("my crew"). And in sports, especially rowing, a crew can be the team that rows the boat.
Examples
- 1
Fishing boat
The fishing boat returned to port with a tired crew.
- 2
Airline staff
The flight crew asked everyone to stay seated until the plane stopped.
- 3
Media team
A camera crew was waiting outside the stadium.
- 4
Moving help
We hired a moving crew to help with the heavy furniture.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Road workers
After the storm, road crews worked through the night to clear fallen trees.
- 6
Minimum staff
Only a skeleton crew was in the office over the holiday.
- Phraseskeleton crew
the smallest number of workers needed
- 7
Friend group
He still hangs out with the same crew he played basketball with in high school.
- Usage
informal: crew can mean a group of friends
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- crewnounverb
Forms
- crewspluralnounverb
- crewedpast tenseverbnoun
- crewing-ing formverbnoun