hoard

American  

[hawrd, hohrd] / hɔrd, hoʊrd /

noun

hoards plural

1. a supply or accumulation that is hidden or carefully guarded for preservation, future use, etc..

   a vast hoard of silver.

   Synonyms:

   stock, store, cache, reserve, stockpile

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verb (used with object)

hoards, present (3rd person singular) hoarded, past participle, past hoarding present participle

1. to accumulate for preservation, future use, etc., in a hidden or carefully guarded place.

   to hoard food during a shortage.

verb (used without object)

hoards, present (3rd person singular) hoarded, past participle, past hoarding present participle

1. to accumulate money, food, or the like, in a hidden or carefully guarded place for preservation, future use, etc.

hoard British  

/ hɔːd /

noun

1. an accumulated store hidden away for future use

2. a cache of ancient coins, treasure, etc

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verb

1. to gather or accumulate (a hoard)

Usage

What’s the difference between hoard and horde? Hoard is a verb meaning to accumulate things and closely guard them, often in a greedy or excessive way, as in Dragons are known for hoarding treasure. It can also be used as a noun to collectively refer to the things that have been accumulated, as in a hoard of treasure. Horde is a noun referring to a large group or mob of people, especially one considered in a negative way, as in I’d rather avoid the hordes of tourists. The word horde is also used in a more specific way to refer to a group of nomads. It is especially associated with the Mongol army of the 1200s (sometimes known as the Golden Horde). Horde can also be a verb, meaning to gather or move in a horde, but this use is much less common. Both words often relate to large groups, but a hoard is an accumulation of items, while a horde is a group of people (or animals). To remember which spelling to use, remember that nomadic hordes sometimes travel on horses. The word hoard, on the other hand, hoards the letter A all for itself. Here’s an example of hoard and horde used correctly in a sentence. Example: A horde of invaders sacked the city and looted the royal treasure hoard. Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between hoard and horde.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• hoarder
  noun
• unhoarded
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• hoards
  plural

Participles

• hoarding
  present
• hoarded
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• hoard
  simple
• hoards
  simple
• have hoarded
  perfect
• has hoarded
  perfect
• am hoarding
  progressive
• are hoarding
  progressive
• is hoarding
  progressive
• have been hoarding
  perfect progressive
• has been hoarding
  perfect progressive

Past

• hoarded
  simple
• had hoarded
  perfect
• was hoarding
  progressive
• were hoarding
  progressive
• had been hoarding
  perfect progressive

Future

• will hoard
  simple
• will have hoarded
  perfect
• will be hoarding
  progressive
• will have been hoarding
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of hoard

First recorded before 900; Middle English hord(e), Old English hord; cognate with Old Norse hodd, Old High German hort, Gothic huzd “treasure”; hide ¹, hide ²

Explanation

To hoard is to save something (or lots of things) for future use. Squirrels hoard nuts for the winter. Old ladies tend to hoard canned food and used plastic bags. People have been using the word hoard for both "to hide" and "treasure" for centuries; as both a verb and as a noun. Some hoard valuables, such as money, jewelry, and family antiques. Others build up a hoard, or cache, of things that aren't worth money but are important to them — like comic books or match books.

Example Sentences

The combined dividend obligations on MicroStrategy’s various preferred shares are substantial—a heavy burden for a company whose legacy software business generates relatively little revenue, leaving its massive Bitcoin hoard to dominate the balance sheet.

From Barron's • Jun. 22, 2026

“Preppers” hoard essentials like water, food and fuel.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026

Although archaeologists believe the original shipment may have contained even more pieces, the surviving collection of 43 helmets already represents the largest known hoard of medieval helmets ever found in the western Mediterranean.

From Science Daily • Jun. 8, 2026

He had been released on licence for the theft but had been due to be sentenced for a separate charge of not paying his share of the Herefordshire hoard value.

From BBC • May 5, 2026

When Dany climbed back into the palanquin beside him, he said, "Your savages are wiser than they know. Such truths as the Asshai'i hoard are not like to make you smile."

From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin

Related Words

• accumulation
• backlog
• cache
• nest egg
• trove