concourse

American  

[kon-kawrs, -kohrs, kong-] / ˈkɒn kɔrs, -koʊrs, ˈkɒŋ- /

noun

concourses plural

1. an assemblage; gathering.

   a concourse of people.

2. a driveway or promenade, especially in a park.

3. a boulevard or other broad thoroughfare.

4. a large open space for accommodating crowds, as in a railroad station.

5. an area or grounds for racing, athletic sports, etc.

6. an act or instance of running or coming together; confluence.

   a concourse of events.

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concourse British  

/ ˈkɒŋ-, ˈkɒnkɔːs /

noun

1. a crowd; throng

2. a coming together; confluence

   a concourse of events

3. a large open space for the gathering of people in a public place

4. a ground for sports, racing, athletics, etc

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• concourses
  plural

Etymology

Origin of concourse

1350–1400; Middle English concours < Middle French; replacing Middle English concurs < Latin concursus assembly, verbal noun corresponding to concurrere to assemble, collide. See concur, course

Explanation

The wide, open area that's either inside or in front of a building is called a concourse. A concourse is often located where many paths or hallways meet. Many kinds of buildings have a concourse, including train stations, airports, hotels, and shopping malls. Concourses are large enough for many people to congregate there — and this crowd or gathering of people can also be called a concourse. A movie star visiting a small city might find himself surrounded by a huge concourse of fans asking for autographs. The Latin root is concursus, "a running together," and the word's original sense was "the flowing of a crowd of people."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

concourse concourses

Rushing hammered the grooved fastball to left-center field, just shy of the Citizens Bank Park concourse.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026

Reportedly, doors will open for guests at 3:30 p.m. for a cocktail reception at 4 p.m. on the sixth-floor concourse.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 1, 2026

When the Stars and Stripes’ clash with Australia kicked off last week, there wasn’t a single person in line at the “Cityside” concession stand on the concourse behind the Australian goal.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 24, 2026

Standing on the concourse, Amir Guerami proudly had it tied around his neck and draped over his back.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 16, 2026

Art and science referred to the de Young Museum and the Academy of Sciences, which were on either side of the concourse.

From "Book Scavenger" by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman

New concourses, expanded corridors and improved passenger facilities have reshaped the transit hub, which serves hundreds of thousands of commuters and travelers each day and remains the busiest rail station in the United States.

From Salon ● Jul. 25, 2026

Steepling stands make for an outstanding atmosphere while the wide concourses allow fans to move around in space and comfort.

From BBC ● Jun. 25, 2026

The approximately 70,000 spectators, many already in ponchos and rain coats, filed out and, in little more than 15 minutes, the concourses of "the Linc" resembled a huge train station on a holiday travel day.

From Barron's ● Jun. 23, 2026

Wasserman called the skyway remodel a “zombie project,” left over from a paused terminal expansion that included plans for two new concourses, “still moving forward on its own inertia.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 15, 2025

Instead, he wanders through pathways and concourses and walks in loops around the courtyard with Marco in tow, who is taking notes whenever Chandresh finds something to comment upon.

From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern

Related Words

• foyer
• lounge