throng

[thrawng, throng]

noun

1. a multitude of people crowded or assembled together; crowd.

   Synonyms: assemblage, host, horde

2. a great number of things crowded or considered together.

   a throng of memories.

3. Chiefly Scot.,  pressure, as of work.

verb (used without object)

1. to assemble, collect, or go in large numbers; crowd.

verb (used with object)

1. to crowd or press upon; jostle.

2. to fill or occupy with or as with a crowd.

   He thronged the picture with stars.

3. to bring or drive together into or as into a crowd, heap, or collection.

4. to fill by crowding or pressing into.

   They thronged the small room.

adjective

Scot. and North England.

1. filled with people or objects; crowded.

2. (of time) filled with things to do; busy.

throng

/ θrɒŋ /

noun

1. a great number of people or things crowded together

verb

1. to gather in or fill (a place) in large numbers; crowd

2. (tr) to hem in (a person); jostle

adjective

1. dialect,  (postpositive) busy

Other Word Forms

• interthronging adjective
• overthrong verb
• unthronged adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of throng¹

before 1000; (noun) Middle English; Old English gethrang; cognate with Dutch drang, German Drang pressure, Old Norse thrǫng throng; (adj. and v.) Middle English; akin to the noun; compare obsolete thring to press

Word History and Origins

Origin of throng¹

Old English gethrang; related to Old Norse throng, Old High German drangōd

Synonym Study

See crowd ¹.

Example Sentences

In the latter, another youngster emerges from a chaotic throng of people, standing apart from the hubbub while carrying a stack of books, suggesting that education offered opportunities to escape these harried circumstances.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Reporters observed a frenzy outside a hospital in Davao City, near the quake's epicentre, as patients were being treated outdoors in a carpark and crowds thronged the corridors.

Read more on BBC

Families and supporters of the hostages still being held by Hamas thronged Jerusalem's Paris Square, with others gathering in Tel Aviv.

Read more on BBC

Quarterback Nico Iamaleava said he appreciated those who did show up Saturday, including a throng of friends and family from his hometown Long Beach.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Prosecutor Ben Holt previously told the court Mr Jones used "inflammatory, rabble-rousing language in the throng of a crowd described as a tinderbox".

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• bunch 
• congregation 
• crush 
• flock 
• gathering 
• horde 
• mass 
• mob 
• multitude 
• sellout 
• swarm