1
a
: a great number of honeybees emigrating together from a hive in company with a queen to start a new colony elsewhere
b
: a colony of honeybees settled in a hive
2
a
: a large number of animate or inanimate things massed together and usually in motion : throng
swarms of sightseers
a swarm of locusts
a swarm of meteors
b
: a number of similar geologic features or phenomena close together in space or time
a swarm of dikes
an earthquake swarm
swarmed; swarming; swarms
1
: to form and depart from a hive in a swarm
2
a
: to move or assemble in a crowd : throng
b
: to hover about in the manner of a bee in a swarm
3
: to contain a swarm : teem
swarming with bugs
1
: to fill with a swarm
2
: to beset or surround in a swarm
players swarming the quarterback
swarmer
noun
Examples of swarm in a Sentence
Noun
a swarm of tourists descends upon the island every summer
Verb (1)
meeting little resistance, the pirates swarmed the decks of the merchant ship
at this time of year that Mexican resort swarms with college students on spring break
Verb (2)
one of the physical challenges had competitors swarming over a pile of logs
Recent Examples on the Web
Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 16 Feb. 2026
It's surged in popularity, due in part to attention on social media, as consumers and businesses swarm to products that can autonomously complete tasks, make decisions, and take actions on behalf of users without constant human guidance.
—Ashley Capoot,ari Levy, CNBC, 15 Feb. 2026
Literary Hub, 18 Feb. 2026
The two silver medalists rushed out to swarm her.
—Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for swarm
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Noun
Autonomous swarms, faster response Marple said the next step is automation of low-level control and coordinated swarming behavior.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 16 Feb. 2026
It's surged in popularity, due in part to attention on social media, as consumers and businesses swarm to products that can autonomously complete tasks, make decisions, and take actions on behalf of users without constant human guidance.
—Ashley Capoot,ari Levy, CNBC, 15 Feb. 2026
Verb
The same media outlets swarming around, talking to any and everyone who is willing.
—Literary Hub, 18 Feb. 2026
The two silver medalists rushed out to swarm her.
—Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for swarm
Cite this Entry
“Swarm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/swarm. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
swarm
1 of 2 noun1
: a great number of honeybees leaving together from a hive with a queen to start a new colony elsewhere
also
: a colony of honeybees settled in a hive
2
: a large number grouped together and usually in motion
swarms of sightseers
a swarm of meteors
swarm
2 of 2 verb1
: to form and leave a hive in a swarm
2
: to move or gather in a swarm : throng
spectators swarmed into the stadium
3
: to contain or fill with a swarm
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