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

This coastal city is known for its sandy shores and the throngs of people who descend to enjoy fun in the sun when the weather warms up.

Read more on MarketWatch

Taken on Saturday, it shows shoppers thronging to similar stalls in a northern suburb of the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, while a column of black smoke rises ominously in the background.

Read more on BBC

Politicians, relatives and throngs of his supporters waved Kenyan flags and held his picture aloft as they gathered at Sunday's memorial service, which was held at a university in Bondo.

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Not far away, throngs of people wearing Dreamforce lanyards streamed in and out of the Moscone Center, heading back and forth to nearby Market Street and pouring into restaurants, coffee shops and take-out joints.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Indeed, his brainchild of quasi-psych rock, synth and dream pop, among other genres, could be to blame for — or celebrate — a throng of similar artists.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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