hoard

American  

[hawrd, hohrd] / hɔrd, hoʊrd /

noun

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

---

verb (used with object)

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)

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

---

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

• hoarder noun
• unhoarded adjective

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

As with TP, people in the 1970s tried to protect the gas they had and hoard more.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 18, 2026

It’s Greg Abel’s Berkshire Hathaway now, but the last act of Warren Buffett as CEO appears to have been putting some of the conglomerate’s record cash hoard to work.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 28, 2026

Once you’ve reviewed your digital hoard, it’s time to consider the files you’re generating now.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 22, 2026

At the very least, the wise among us have emergency kits, while enthusiasts hoard canned goods and weapons.

From Salon • Jan. 23, 2026

Then he ran in “breathless haste” and “spread the news” that he had discovered a hoard of stolen fruit.

From "Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith" by Deborah Heiligman

Related Words

• accumulation
• backlog
• cache
• nest egg
• trove