1
archaic
: a band or force of armed men
2
a
: a group of people associated together in a common activity or by common traits or interests
b
3
a
: a company of people working on one job or under one foreman or operating a machine
b
: the whole company belonging to a ship sometimes including the officers and master
also
: one who assists the skipper of a sailboat
c
: the persons who have duties on an aircraft in flight
d
: the rowers and coxswain of a racing shell
also
: rowing
crewed; crewing; crews
: to act as a member of a crew
Horwitz begins his re-creation of Cook's journeys by crewing on a replica of the Endeavour, Cook's first ship.—
Robert R. Harris
Robert R. Harris1
: to serve as a crew member on (a ship, an aircraft, etc.)
Crewing the vessel were three experienced sailors …—Ron Arias
Ron Arias2
: to supply (something) with people (as for service)
"… you need to know at least 72 hours beforehand … to fuel and crew the plane, fly the plane over, give the crew enough time to rest," he [Erik Pitkethly] says.—Emma Sheppard
Emma SheppardEventually, the production based itself in Stirling and Jankel filmed entirely on location …. The Screen Scotland Screen Commission helped crew the film with a majority Scottish contingent.—screendaily.com
screendaily.comSynonyms
Examples of crew in a Sentence
Noun
a skilled member of a ship's crew
the flight's passengers and crew
the ship's captain and crew
A construction crew will begin work on the house next week.
Verb
She spent a couple of years crewing on a British ship.
The ship was crewed by 12 men.
Recent Examples on the Web
Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 8 Feb. 2025
Our thoughts and prayers are with the passengers, their families and the rescue crew.
—Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 8 Feb. 2025
Mike Wall, Space.com, 24 Jan. 2025
In the 2024 Daytona race, both Porsche cars were crewed by four drivers each.
—Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for crew 
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Noun
This exceptional adventure combines the stunning beauty of Arctic landscapes with the rare spectacle of the 2026 total solar eclipse, as the experienced crew ensures optimal positioning for an unforgettable eclipse-viewing experience.
—Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 8 Feb. 2025
Our thoughts and prayers are with the passengers, their families and the rescue crew.
—Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 8 Feb. 2025
Verb
Nine of New Shepard's 28 flights to date have been crewed.
—Mike Wall, Space.com, 24 Jan. 2025
In the 2024 Daytona race, both Porsche cars were crewed by four drivers each.
—Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for crew
Dictionary Entries Near crew
Cite this Entry
“Crew.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crew. Accessed 13 Feb. 2025.
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