1 throng | Definition of throng

throng

noun
\ ˈthrȯŋ How to pronounce throng (audio) \

Definition of throng

 (Entry 1 of 2)

1a : a multitude of assembled persons
b : a large number : host
2a : a crowding together of many persons
b : a pressing increase of activity this throng of business— S. R. Crockett

throng

verb
thronged; thronging\ ˈthrȯŋ-​iÅ‹ How to pronounce thronging (audio) \

Definition of throng (Entry 2 of 2)

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

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Synonyms for throng

Synonyms: Noun

army, bike [chiefly Scottish], cram, crowd, crush, drove, flock, herd, horde, host, legion, mass, mob, multitude, press, rout, scrum, swarm

Synonyms: Verb

crowd, flock, mob, swarm

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Choose the Right Synonym for throng

Noun

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

Examples of throng in a Sentence

Noun

grabbed a megaphone and addressed the vast throng

Verb

Shoppers thronged the mall for the sales. fans thronged the field to celebrate the win
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Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

But in the final, O’Brien couldn’t match the air game of Dora, who landed a couple big airs, garnering big scores to the delight of the throngs of Brazilian fans watching from the beach and pier. Joe Haakenson, Daily Pilot, "Sage Erickson wins U.S. Open of Surfing women’s title, denying rival Courtney Conlogue repeat," 4 Aug. 2019 From Vanuatu to Brussels, throngs of students gathered, waving signs, singing and yelling chants, and clustering together in a coordinated attempt to express their concern to those who have the power to address the issue. Alejandra Borunda, National Geographic, "Kids striking against climate change: 'We're fighting for our lives'," 15 Mar. 2019 Many Rams were able to break away from the throngs of onlookers and pretend media on the floor to return to their childhoods. Barry Wilner, The Seattle Times, "Media night more like a mosh pit and Mardi Gras," 29 Jan. 2019 Her throngs of collaborators include musicians, singers and producers from the U.S., England, Sweden, Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana and Cameroon (though not East Africa). Jon Pareles, New York Times, "Beyoncé Reimagines ‘The Lion King’ as Global 21st-Century Pop," 24 July 2019 On previous visits to the arena as a Georgia Tech assistant coach, Pineda advised her players to follow her lead and pretend that the throngs of red-and-white-clad fans were cheering for them. Danielle Lerner, The Courier-Journal, "Louisville women’s basketball new assistant coach ready for ‘whatever it takes’," 10 July 2019 One by one, paramedics carted four gurneys south on Paulina as a throng of residents stood on the street corner. Alice Yin, chicagotribune.com, "6 killed, 63 others wounded by gun violence in long Fourth of July weekend," 8 July 2019 While throngs jostle for limited viewing spots along the Esplanade, hundreds of boaters each year spend a serene day on the water. Alison Kuznitz, BostonGlobe.com, "Anchored on the Charles, awaiting the big show," 3 July 2019 Minor news flowed from Iowa this week as the throng of Democrats who want to be president flowed in. John Archibald | [email protected], al.com, "Alabama politicians sing the classics," 12 June 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Chief Gallagher emerged from the courthouse beaming, hugging his wife and brother as photographers thronged around his legal team. Dave Philipps, New York Times, "Navy SEAL Chief Accused of War Crimes Is Found Not Guilty of Murder," 2 July 2019 On Hong Kong Island, streets that just two weekends ago were smothered in tear gas were thronged by people lining sidewalks and holding hands. Mary Hui, Quartz, "Photos: Hong Kong protesters unify in a human chain across the city," 23 Aug. 2019 Twice in as many weeks protesters have thronged to Hong Kong’s streets in unprecedented numbers to demand the government withdraw a proposal that would allow extraditions to mainland China. Laignee Barron / Hong Kong, Time, "Why Hong Kong Protesters Aren't Calling It Quits After the Suspension of a Controversial Extradition Bill," 19 June 2019 Protesters thronged Hong Kong’s streets, calling for Chief Executive Carrie Lam to resign. Wenxin Fan, WSJ, "Hong Kong Marchers Flood Streets Over Extradition Bill," 16 June 2019 Russian police violently dispersed thousands of people who thronged Moscow streets on Saturday to protest election authorities for disqualifying independent candidates from the Sept. 8 election for the Moscow city council. Washington Post, "The Latest: Putin critic sent to hospital for severe allergy," 29 July 2019 Russian police violently dispersed thousands of people who thronged the streets of Moscow on Saturday to protest the move by election authorities. Jim Heintz, chicagotribune.com, "Russian police crack down violently on Moscow protesters, arresting nearly 1,400 people," 28 July 2019 Houston Street was so thronged with passersby that newspaper columnists of the 1930s and ’40s complained of sidewalk traffic jams. Paula Allen, ExpressNews.com, "San Antonio’s ‘sidewalk photographers’ captured Houston Street life," 27 July 2019 Kwong has vowed to safeguard the teenagers thronging to the streets in a rebellion against Beijing’s choke hold on the semi-autonomous enclave. Time, "'Whenever There’s Trouble He Rushes There.' Meet Legislator Roy Kwong, the God of Hong Kong Protests," 20 July 2019

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.

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First Known Use of throng

Noun

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

Verb

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

History and Etymology for throng

Noun

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"

Verb

Middle English thrangen, throngen, probably derivative of throng, thrang throng entry 1, replacing thringen, going back to Old English thringan

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More Definitions for throng

throng

noun

English Language Learners Definition of throng

 (Entry 1 of 2)