throng

noun \ ˈthrȯŋ \

|Updated on: 3 Jul 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: throng in a Sentence

Definition of throng

1 a : a multitude of assembled persons

b : a large number : host

2 a : a crowding together of many persons

b : a pressing increase of activity

this throng of business
—S. R. Crockett

See throng defined for English-language learners

See throng defined for kids

Examples of throng in a Sentence

grabbed a megaphone and addressed the vast throng

Recent Examples of throng from the Web

Castro has been among a throng of Democrats to denounce the policy that resulted in more than 2,300 children separated from their families.

— Washington Post, "Julian Castro seizes on border separation while musing run," 24 June 2018
And because no Westside gathering is complete without tacos, a lively Aldo Cantina was set up outside where throngs of people noshed, including model and musician Dylan Brosnan and his girlfriend, Avery Wheless.

— Vogue, "L.A. Artists and Influencers Party With Aldo in Venice Beach," 18 June 2018
Even at the World Cup opener on Thursday, between host Russia and Saudi Arabia, Peru’s distinct uniform shirt — a white shirt with a red sash — was a regular presence among the throng.

— tariq panja, New York Times, "Peru Invades Russia. Well, at Least Many of Its Fans Have.," 16 June 2018
Crowds gathered to watch the royals arrive at Runcorn railway station, and the throngs included schoolchildren waving British flags.

— erica gonzales, Harper's BAZAAR, "Meghan Markle Just Had Her First Event with the Queen and This Kid Is All of Us Right Now," 14 June 2018
As the show continues its journey through the vast range of human sexualities, the bodies within the central throng multiply.

— todd vanderwerff, Vox, "No other show on TV would end its series finale the way Sense8 did," 8 June 2018
Count me among the throngs who are disappointed Tim Lincecum couldn't rekindle a some of his past greatness and put it on display for the Rangers this season.

— jeff wilson, star-telegram, "Rangers Reaction: Disappointing outcome, but Rangers made right decision on Lincecum," 5 June 2018
His stage was small and bare, with no backdrop and a small throng of fans near the front.

— joey guerra, Houston Chronicle, "Harry Styles and Kacey Musgraves celebrate Pride in Houston," 8 June 2018
Donning traditional clothing and carrying floral wreaths, her bereaved family and a throng of mourners marched under heavy rain for an hour from her parents' home to the cemetery.

— NBC News, "Mourners bury Guatemalan woman killed by U.S. border agent," 3 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'throng.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of throng

Middle English throng, thrang "mass, press," going back to Old English *thrang or gethrang (with ge-, collective prefix), going back to West Germanic *þrang- (whence Middle Dutch gedranc "crowd, press," dranc, drang "pressure," Old High German gidrang "crowd, mass"), noun ablaut derivative from the base of Germanic *þrengan-,*þrenhan- "to press" (whence Old Saxon thringan "to press, urge," Old High German dringan, thringan, Old Norse þryngva "to press, crowd," Gothic þreihan), going back to dialectal Indo-European *trenk- "press," whence also Lithuanian trenkiù, treñkti "to push roughly, fling"

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

throng Synonyms

Synonyms

army, crowd, crush, drove, flock, herd, horde, host, legion, mass, mob, multitude, press, rout, swarm;

gaggle;

heap, mountain, pile;

jam, logjam;

Synonym Discussion of throng

crowd, throng, horde, crush, mob mean an assembled multitude. crowd implies a close gathering and pressing together.

- a crowd gathered

throng and horde suggest movement and pushing.

- a throng of reporters
- a horde of shoppers

crush emphasizes the compactness of the group, the difficulty of individual movement, and the attendant discomfort.

- a crush of fans

mob implies a disorderly crowd with the potential for violence.

- an angry mob

throng

verb

Definition of throng

thronged; thronging play \ˈthrȯŋ-iŋ\

transitive verb

1 : to crowd upon : press

a celebrity thronged by fans

2 : to crowd into : pack

shoppers thronging the streets

intransitive verb

: to crowd together in great numbers

See throng defined for English-language learners

Examples of throng in a Sentence

Shoppers thronged the mall for the sales.
fans thronged the field to celebrate the win

Recent Examples of throng from the Web

Long lines of people thronged the new museum, which encompasses work from both the East and West.

— Houston Chronicle, "Art Galleries: ‘Big Swells’ in the art world," 20 June 2018
The lobbies outside the Assembly and Senate chambers, on most days thronged with advocates, were frequently empty.

— vivian wang, New York Times, "As End of Legislative Session Nears, Ennui Wins the Day," 19 June 2018
On June 15, 2014, Leonard lived up to Popovich’s wildest prediction, hoisting the Finals MVP trophy in the midst of a thronging AT&T Center after the Spurs finished off Miami to earn their fifth championship.

— jeff mcdonald, San Antonio Express-News, "Spurs, Leonard split won’t be pretty — if it happens," 15 June 2018
There is no plan to provide services to those billion people who have now thronged to our cities.

— refinery29.com, "Has Hollywood Changed Since Gladiator? Connie Nielsen Doesn't Think So," 8 June 2018
Tens of thousands of people continued to throng Nicaragua’s streets in peaceful demonstrations for and against the authoritarian socialist government of Daniel Ortega.

— The Economist, "Politics this week," 3 May 2018
For seven straight school days, a massive teachers strike has gripped every county in West Virginia, with teachers setting up picket lines on public roads and thronging the capitol to holler at state lawmakers.

— matt pearce, latimes.com, "Soaring healthcare costs drove West Virginia teachers to go on their (possibly illegal) statewide strike," 3 Mar. 2018
Hundreds of people waving opposition banners thronged the area around the hotel where Dr. Mahathir and his allies gathered to hear the result, their victory chants cutting through the thick, humid air.

— yantoultra ngui, WSJ, "Malaysia’s Mahathir Leads Opposition to Breathtaking Election Win," 10 May 2018
But this minuscule village now contains more than two dozen restored guesthouses—many listed on Airbnb—and in high summer, visitors often throng the rickety wooden lofts of its 13th-century church.

— christopher bagley, Condé Nast Traveler, "The Bewitching Time Warp of Transylvania, Romania," 4 May 2018