swarm
1a body of honeybees that emigrate from a hive and fly off together, accompanied by a queen, to start a new colony.
a body of bees settled together, as in a hive.
a great number of things or persons, especially in motion.
Biology. a group or aggregation of free-floating or free-swimming cells or organisms.
Geology. a cluster of earthquakes or other geologic phenomena or features.
to fly off together in a swarm, as bees.
to move about, along, forth, etc., in great numbers, as things or persons.
to congregate, hover, or occur in groups or multitudes; be exceedingly numerous, as in a place or area.
(of a place) to be thronged or overrun; abound or teem: The beach swarms with children on summer weekends.
Biology. to move or swim about in a swarm.
Origin of swarm
1synonym study For swarm
Other words for swarm
Other words from swarm
- swarmer, noun
Words Nearby swarm
Other definitions for swarm (2 of 2)
to climb by clasping with the legs and hands or arms and drawing oneself up; shin.
Origin of swarm
2Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use swarm in a sentence
Three days later, swarms of men answered Lincoln’s request and rallied for war.
Troops lodged in the Capitol in 1861. It was a wreck when they left. | Meryl Kornfield, Felicia Sonmez | January 14, 2021 | Washington PostThey swarmed into the Capitol chanting “Hang Mike Pence” when he refused.
Pelosi once again plays politics with impeachment | Marc Thiessen | January 12, 2021 | Washington PostThe defense swarmed, and Butler struggled to get open looks and seemed to be affected by Georgetown’s length.
Georgetown lets another double-digit lead slip away in a loss to Butler | Kareem Copeland | January 7, 2021 | Washington PostIn late 2017, Sestito set out to study how this metal-poor swarm moves by writing code to analyze the upcoming Gaia results.
After using this ability to defeat Rhino, the area is swarmed by the armed security units of Roxxon, an energy corporation looking to provide “clean energy” to Harlem.
‘Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales’: Like its movie counterparts, a confident and entertaining spectacle | Christopher Byrd | November 6, 2020 | Washington Post
He was prepared to swarm the island—not directly, but through Brooklyn.
The British Royals Reinvade Brooklyn: William and Kate Come Watch Basketball on Historic Battle Site | Justin Jones | December 6, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTCars swarm dangerously around them on this two-lane road carved, literally, into the side of a chain of mountains.
Heart of Darkness: Into Afghanistan’s Taliban Valley | Matt Trevithick, Daniel Seckman | November 15, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThe Stalwarts hoped to swarm the convention and force a challenge to the delegate roll.
The GOP’s Last Identity Crisis Remade U.S. Politics | Michael Wolraich | July 24, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTIn an ancient stone carving, warriors brandishing shields and swords swarm over the columned facade of a grand temple.
Iraq’s Long-Lost Mythical Temple Has Been Found…and Is In Danger of Disappearing Again | Nina Strochlic | July 24, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTWhen he struck, Brown wrote, “The bees will begin to swarm.”
When Robert E. Lee Met John Brown and Saved the Union | Michael Korda | May 15, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThere 171 are a great many streams at Port Royal, and among them three or four where the fish swarm in the spawning season.
His own home at Flekkefjord was not a happy one; his father drank, and there was a swarm of small children.
Skipper Worse | Alexander Lange KiellandThe sepoys usually swarm out hell-for-leather and we rush to meet them.
The Red Year | Louis TracyFor he made numbers of men swarm out of Persia, that have fought against us, and the holy city.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version | VariousBut now the newcomers began to swarm into our yard, asking H. if he had coin to sell for greenbacks.
British Dictionary definitions for swarm (1 of 2)
/ (swɔːm) /
a group of social insects, esp bees led by a queen, that has left the parent hive in order to start a new colony
a large mass of small animals, esp insects
a throng or mass, esp when moving or in turmoil
(intr) (of small animals, esp bees) to move in or form a swarm
(intr) to congregate, move about or proceed in large numbers
(when intr, often foll by with) to overrun or be overrun (with): the house swarmed with rats
(tr) to cause to swarm
Origin of swarm
1British Dictionary definitions for swarm (2 of 2)
/ (swɔːm) /
(when intr, usually foll by up) to climb (a ladder, etc) by gripping with the hands and feet: the boys swarmed up the rigging
Origin of swarm
2Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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