troop

1 of 2

noun

1
a
: a group of soldiers
b
: a cavalry unit corresponding to an infantry company
c
troops plural : armed forces, soldiers
2
: a collection of people or things : crew sense 2
3
: a flock of mammals or birds
4
: the basic organizational unit of Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts under an adult leader

troop

2 of 2

verb

trooped; trooping; troops

intransitive verb

1
: to move or gather in crowds
2
: to go one's way : walk
3
: to spend time together : associate
4
: to move in large numbers

Example Sentences

Noun Where is his troop heading? a plan to withdraw troops a troop of enthusiastic children Verb We all trooped back inside. The kids trooped off to school.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Roland Emmerich is filling out his Colosseum, with a new troop of actors to complete the cast of Those About to Die, a gladiator action series which the Independence Day director has begun shooting in Rome. Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Mar. 2023 The resolution that was ultimately adopted by the U.N. makes no mention of foreign troop deployments. Marlene L. Daut, The New Yorker, 18 Mar. 2023 Face recognition technology trained on images from Russian social media helped identify dead soldiers, and Google Maps and satellite imagery enabled ordinary citizens to track troop movements. WIRED, 14 Mar. 2023 But the proliferation of small satellites has created a more resilient system that has provided real-time imagery of the Ukraine battlefield from space, allowing nations to track troop movements, assess damage and share intelligence. Christian Davenport, Anchorage Daily News, 8 Mar. 2023 But the proliferation of small satellites has created a more resilient system that has provided real-time imagery of the Ukraine battlefield from space, allowing nations to track troop movements, assess damage and share intelligence. Christian Davenport, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2023 The next three months are crucial, as the winter thaws and makes troop movements easier. Fareed Zakaria, CNN, 24 Feb. 2023 But the position of the United States Government is not to send troop in there. ABC News, 27 Mar. 2022 Ukrainian officials have not provided details about their troop movements and tactics to defend the city. Susie Blann, BostonGlobe.com, 15 Feb. 2023
Verb
Then, in Strickland’s film, at least, the more devoted of the audience members troop backstage to pay their respects by participating in an apparently standard orgy. Vulture, 24 June 2022 When docked, the guests troop up stone staircases to sun-dappled courtyards built on cliffs for outdoor dinners with breathtaking views. Lindsay Ellis, WSJ, 9 Sep. 2022 At the annual parade in central London on June 2, the 1st battalion of the Irish Guards will troop their color. PEOPLE.com, 17 May 2022 Echoing that idea, New York City Mayor Eric Adams recently alluded to the end of the customary work week where employees dutifully troop into the office every day. Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 23 Mar. 2022 Kicking out hundreds, possibly thousands, of service members because of their beliefs is not only devastating to troop morale, but also harms our national security interests. Jack Durschlag, Fox News, 16 Feb. 2022 The supply of houses for sale has been limited, partly because many Americans are reluctant to put their properties on the market and allow would-be buyers to troop through their homes. Paul Wiseman, Star Tribune, 27 July 2021 Even as demand rose during the pandemic, fewer Americans were willing to sell their properties, perhaps reluctant to have waves of potential buyers troop through their homes. CBS News, 29 June 2021 Even as demand rose during the pandemic, fewer Americans were willing to sell their properties, perhaps reluctant to have waves of potential buyers troop through their homes. Time, 29 June 2021 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'troop.' 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 French trope, troupe company, herd, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English thorp, throp village — more at thorp

First Known Use

Noun

1545, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1565, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of troop was in 1545

Dictionary Entries Near troop

Cite this Entry

“Troop.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/troop. Accessed 30 Mar. 2023.

Kids Definition

troop

1 of 2 noun
1
a
: a group of soldiers
b
2
: a collection of people or things : company
3
: a flock of mammals or birds
4
: a unit of Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts under an adult leader

troop

2 of 2 verb
: to move or gather in crowds

More from Merriam-Webster on troop

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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