gang
1a group or band: A gang of boys gathered around the winning pitcher.
a group of youngsters or adolescents who associate closely, often exclusively, for social reasons, especially such a group engaging in delinquent behavior.
a group of people with compatible tastes or mutual interests who gather together for social reasons: I'm throwing a party for the gang I bowl with.
a group of persons associated for some criminal or other antisocial purpose: a gang of thieves.
a set of tools, electronic components or circuits, oars, etc., arranged to work together or simultaneously.
a group of identical or related items.
to arrange in groups or sets; form into a gang: to gang illustrations for more economical printing on one sheet.
to attack in a gang.
to form or act as a gang: Cutthroats who gang together hang together.
gang up on, Informal. (of a number of persons) to unite in opposition to (a person); combine against: The bigger boys ganged up on the smaller ones in the schoolyard.
Origin of gang
1Other words for gang
Other definitions for gang (2 of 2)
to walk or go.
Origin of gang
2Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use gang in a sentence
I thought if I did so, by throwing the rope over the organ, I might set it ganging, and that would spoil the job.
Yorkshire Oddities, Incidents and Strange Events | S. Baring-GouldDuring this time, I never sterr'd a foot, but keepit keeking frae the back shop upon a' that was ganging on.
I have heard of a thing they call Doomsday Book—I am clear it has been a rental of back-ganging tenants.
Red Gauntlet | Sir Walter ScottThey were everywhere, stabbing and diving, slashing at the bombers and ganging up on the fighters.
A Yankee Flier Over Berlin | Al AveryFlinging the stuff away with a grimace, he rinsed his hand and cut off the ganging with his knife.
Jim Spurling, Fisherman | Albert Walter Tolman
British Dictionary definitions for gang (1 of 3)
/ (ɡæŋ) /
a group of people who associate together or act as an organized body, esp for criminal or illegal purposes
an organized group of workmen
a herd of buffaloes or elks or a pack of wild dogs
NZ a group of shearers who travel to different shearing sheds, shearing, classing, and baling wool
a series of similar tools arranged to work simultaneously in parallel
(as modifier): a gang saw
to form into, become part of, or act as a gang
(tr) electronics to mount (two or more components, such as variable capacitors) on the same shaft, permitting adjustment by a single control
Origin of gang
1- See also gang up
Derived forms of gang
- ganged, adjective
British Dictionary definitions for gang (2 of 3)
/ (ɡæŋ) /
Scot to go
Origin of gang
2British Dictionary definitions for gang (3 of 3)
/ (ɡæŋ) /
a variant spelling of gangue
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with gang
In addition to the idiom beginning with gang
- gang up
also see:
- like gangbusters
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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