throng

noun \ ˈthrȯŋ \

|Updated on: 19 Jun 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

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
On June 8, D’Alesandro was among a throng of Marylanders paying solemn, and silent, tribute to Robert Kennedy as the train carrying his body passed through Baltimore’s Pennsylvania Station on its way to Washington.

— chris kaltenbach, baltimoresun.com, "As May 1968 drew to a close, enthusiasm for Robert Kennedy's presidential bid was growing in Maryland," 23 May 2018
What if the Eagles make the Patriots’ lack of attendance look like a throng?

— marcus hayes, Philly.com, "Jeffrey Lurie has to take the Eagles to the White House, but anti-Trump players should decline | Marcus Hayes," 20 May 2018
Middleton was nearly unrecognizable behind large black sunglasses and without her signature blowout or a throng of paparazzi following her, according to VF.

— erica gonzales, Harper's BAZAAR, "Kate Middleton Was Seen with Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte Ahead of the Royal Wedding," 16 May 2018
The teams are among a throng at or near the top of the league with two losses.

— mark stewart, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Milwaukee-area baseball rankings, players and team of the week," 30 Apr. 2018
While the Manoir will be heavily fortified and off-limits during the summit, the region has plenty to offer long after Trump, Trudeau, and the inevitable throngs of protesters have left.

— phil wahba, Fortune, "Vacation, G7-Style," 29 May 2018
Most other distance races -- with their clear routes, aid stations, teams of helpful volunteers and throngs of encouraging spectators -- are designed so racers finish, but the Barkley is designed so racers fail.

— david g. allan, CNN, "The infamous murderer's prison escape that inspired a near-impossible ultramarathon," 26 May 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

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
The new community was a hit from the start, as thousands thronged to tour model homes in a community with a host of recreational amenities that redefined the lifestyle of older Americans.

— azcentral, "From climate to fry bread, 125 reasons to love Arizona," 15 May 2015
Long lines of people thronged the new museum, which encompasses work from both the East and West.

— molly glentzer, Houston Chronicle, "Menil Drawing Institute to open Nov. 3," 30 Apr. 2018
So when demonstrators began thronging the city’s streets on April 18th, they were surrounded by fitting targets for their ire.

— The Economist, "The violent end of Daniel Ortega’s decade of quiet," 26 Apr. 2018