throng
Americannoun
-
a multitude of people crowded or assembled together; crowd.
- Synonyms:
- assemblage, host, horde
-
a great number of things crowded or considered together.
a throng of memories.
-
Chiefly Scot. pressure, as of work.
verb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
-
to crowd or press upon; jostle.
-
to fill or occupy with or as with a crowd.
He thronged the picture with stars.
-
to bring or drive together into or as into a crowd, heap, or collection.
-
to fill by crowding or pressing into.
They thronged the small room.
adjective
-
filled with people or objects; crowded.
-
(of time) filled with things to do; busy.
noun
verb
-
to gather in or fill (a place) in large numbers; crowd
-
(tr) to hem in (a person); jostle
adjective
Synonym Usage
See crowd 1.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
throngsimple
-
throngssimple
-
have throngedperfect
-
has throngedperfect
-
am throngingprogressive
-
are throngingprogressive
-
is throngingprogressive
-
have been throngingperfect progressive
-
has been throngingperfect progressive
Past
-
throngedsimple
-
had throngedperfect
-
was throngingprogressive
-
were throngingprogressive
-
had been throngingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of throng
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
Explanation
A throng is a crowd of people or animals. On the crowded platform, the throng of passengers attempted to push their way into the already overcrowded subway car. When used as a noun, throng means a tightly packed crowd of people or animals. As a verb, it means to push together or squeeze into an area. The science fiction movie fans thronged into the auditorium when they heard their favorite actor had entered the building. The word comes to us from the Middle English term meaning "push" or "force one's way," which is exactly what you'd have to do if you got stuck inside a throng of people.
Vocabulary lists containing throng
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
That didn’t stop the “Tarps Off” throng of shirtless fans at Angel Stadium from chanting Adell’s name after the gaffe against the Rockies.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 3, 2026
Most of the attendees are journalists, but among the throng is Janet Atkinson, a resident of the town.
From BBC • Apr. 27, 2026
On a former derelict dock in the British port city of Liverpool, fans of Everton throng eateries and bars at the football club's new stadium ahead of a Premier League match.
From Barron's • Mar. 11, 2026
The throng included San Francisco native Gennaro Covelli, 28, who took the day off from work to figure out whether the march was satire.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 8, 2026
Behind him, Manny’s poor gray body stood, the throng haint within it heaving ragged breaths that burned through Sierra’s mind.
From "Shadowshaper" by Daniel José Older
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
