swarm

1 of 3

noun

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

swarm

2 of 3

verb (1)

swarmed; swarming; swarms

intransitive verb

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

transitive verb

1
: to fill with a swarm
2
: to beset or surround in a swarm
players swarming the quarterback
swarmer noun

swarm

3 of 3

verb (2)

swarmed; swarming; swarms

intransitive verb

: to climb with the hands and feet
specifically : shin
swarm up a pole

transitive verb

: to climb up : mount

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
Noun
On the corner of North Broad and York streets, the heart of North Philadelphia, a swarm of volunteers, organizers and passersby bopped to the sounds of hip-hop blaring from a DJ’s speakers. Trymaine Lee, NBC News, 23 Oct. 2024 Incoming solar storm to unleash auroras Video shows nearly 100 raccoons swarm woman's yard, prompting 911 call in Washington Tesla unveils Cybercab driverless model in 'We, Robot' event Winter in October? Mike Snider, USA TODAY, 12 Oct. 2024
Verb
Photos of bronze poop statue in Washington D.C. Here are recent photos of the installation and people swarming to capture photo and video of it. Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY, 25 Oct. 2024 An estimated 20,000 people swarmed the 1378 conclave in Rome to make their opinion known, including peasants who traveled from the countryside. Olivia B. Waxman, TIME, 25 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for swarm 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'swarm.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English swearm; akin to Old High German swaram swarm and probably to Latin susurrus hum

Verb (2)

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Verb (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of swarm was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near swarm

Cite this Entry

“Swarm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/swarm. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

swarm

1 of 2 noun
1
: 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 verb
1
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on swarm

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