crew
B1Neutral to informal; technical in aviation/nautical contexts.
Definition
Meaning
A group of people working together, especially on a ship, aircraft, or film production.
Can refer to any organized group with a specific function, often informally to one's friends or associates.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a collective noun. Can imply teamwork, hierarchy, and shared responsibility. Informally, it can denote a social group or gang.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Both use 'crew' for transport and media teams. In the UK, 'crew' is common in rowing contexts (e.g., Oxford boat crew). In the US, it's more strongly associated with casual social groups (e.g., 'my crew').
Connotations
UK: Strong nautical/aviation professional connotation. US: Slightly stronger informal social group connotation.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English in informal contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[crew] + [of + NOUN] (a crew of sailors)[crew] + [VERB] (The crew works hard.)[VERB] + [crew] (to assemble a crew)[ADJ] + [crew] (a skilled crew)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A happy ship makes a happy crew”
- “Skeleton crew”
- “Mutiny against/to have a mutiny in the crew”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to a team assigned to a specific project or operation.
Academic
Used in historical, sociological, or management studies discussing group dynamics.
Everyday
Used for groups of friends or people working together (e.g., moving house).
Technical
Specific term in aviation, maritime, film/TV, and emergency services.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- They crewed the yacht for the transatlantic race.
- We need to crew this lifeboat properly.
American English
- She crewed on a reality TV show last summer.
- He's crewing a delivery truck for the summer.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- The crew accommodation was surprisingly spacious.
- He held a crew position on the rig.
American English
- The crew lounge is down the hall.
- She has crew experience on cargo flights.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The crew on the plane were very friendly.
- He plays football with his crew every Saturday.
- The film crew arrived early to set up the equipment.
- Our rowing crew trains on the river every morning.
- A skeleton crew was maintained at the factory over the holidays.
- The camera crew expertly captured the chaotic scene.
- The research vessel's crew comprised scientists and experienced mariners.
- The mutiny was led by a disgruntled faction of the crew.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a CROW's nest on a ship - the CREW works below it.
Conceptual Metaphor
A SHIP/ORGANIZATION IS A BODY (The crew are its limbs, working in unison).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating as 'команда' for a sports team; use 'team'. 'Crew' is for ships, planes, or specific working groups.
- Do not confuse with 'крюк' (hook).
Common Mistakes
- Using a plural verb with 'crew' as a single unit (e.g., 'The crew is ready' is correct).
- Using 'crews' unnecessarily; 'crew' can be plural (e.g., 'The crews of both ships' vs. 'The crew of both ships').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'crew' LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It can be both. As a collective noun for a single unit, use a singular verb (The crew is on board). When referring to individual members, a plural verb is possible (The crew are taking their seats).
'Crew' implies a team working together on a specific vehicle, project, or task (ship, plane, film). 'Staff' refers to all employees of an organization or department, not necessarily working as a single team on one task.
Informally, yes (e.g., 'my crew'). Formally, it's best used for groups with a defined operational role, especially in transport, media, or emergency services.
It means to serve as a member of a crew on a ship, aircraft, etc., or to provide a crew for something.
Collections
Part of a collection
Travel Vocabulary
A2 · 50 words · Words for getting around, booking trips and visiting new places.