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 Words From

• inter·thronging adjective
• over·throng verb
• un·thronged 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

The demonstrations were entirely different scenes from this past March, when hundreds of protesters, including children, thronged the city’s streets to call for a full reopening of schools.

From Ozy

Luxury cars full of families traverse the island, while throngs of others walk or ride bikes on the tree-lined streets.

From Vox

When the person falls — and they usually do — throngs of people who’ve helped make the social media spectacle known as the Milk Crate Challenge the latest viral phenomenon proceed to sing a chorus of “Oh!”

From Washington Post

With its loose application requirements, PUA instantly drew throngs of scammers.

From ProPublica

In a similar vein, the companies have suspended or modified activities and attractions that draw throngs of spectators.

From Washington Post

The throng took a collective breath before retreating back behind their office doors.

From The Daily Beast

Cuomo shouted to the throng of elected officials gathered at the head of the parade.

From The Daily Beast

She said the drug bridge drew the predictable sensationalism from a press throng that took its drug use cues from tamer festivals.

From The Daily Beast

With that, he took a huff off a morning joint and moved into the throng of jovial patrons.

From The Daily Beast

I threaded my way through the silent throng of spectators, but was stopped at Fourth Street by a cordon of police.

From The Daily Beast

Above, great standard electric lamps shed their white glare upon the eddying throng casting a myriad of grotesque shadows.

From Project Gutenberg

It was eleven o'clock when he went out and joined the throng of people sunning themselves on the walk beside the lake.

From Project Gutenberg

Down in the hall a great throng of guests passed from the room into the garden and back again.

From Project Gutenberg

Lamb worked his way up into the throng and got a glimpse of the other guy getting stiff on the backroom floor.

From Project Gutenberg

A throng of young girls, gleaning, followed the reapers and raked up the ears that fell.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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