throng

[thrawng, throng]

noun

1. a multitude of people crowded or assembled together; crowd.

   Synonyms: assemblage, host, horde

2. a great number of things crowded or considered together.

   a throng of memories.

3. Chiefly Scot.,  pressure, as of work.

verb (used without object)

1. to assemble, collect, or go in large numbers; crowd.

verb (used with object)

1. to crowd or press upon; jostle.

2. to fill or occupy with or as with a crowd.

   He thronged the picture with stars.

3. to bring or drive together into or as into a crowd, heap, or collection.

4. to fill by crowding or pressing into.

   They thronged the small room.

adjective

Scot. and North England.

1. filled with people or objects; crowded.

2. (of time) filled with things to do; busy.

throng

/ θrɒŋ /

noun

1. a great number of people or things crowded together

verb

1. to gather in or fill (a place) in large numbers; crowd

2. (tr) to hem in (a person); jostle

adjective

1. dialect,  (postpositive) busy

Other Word Forms

• interthronging adjective
• overthrong verb
• unthronged adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of throng¹

before 1000; (noun) Middle English; Old English gethrang; cognate with Dutch drang, German Drang pressure, Old Norse thrǫng throng; (adj. and v.) Middle English; akin to the noun; compare obsolete thring to press

Word History and Origins

Origin of throng¹

Old English gethrang; related to Old Norse throng, Old High German drangōd

Synonym Study

See crowd ¹.

Example Sentences

Quarterback Nico Iamaleava said he appreciated those who did show up Saturday, including a throng of friends and family from his hometown Long Beach.

From Los Angeles Times

Prosecutor Ben Holt previously told the court Mr Jones used "inflammatory, rabble-rousing language in the throng of a crowd described as a tinderbox".

From BBC

She points to the throngs of children playing in the garden.

From BBC

After four months of princess treatment and double rations for Penelope, zookeepers checked on her nest in front of a throng of excited reporters.

From BBC

Tens of thousands of people have thronged the streets to pay tribute to the politician, widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in Kerala's political history.

From BBC

Related Words

• bunch 
• congregation 
• crush 
• flock 
• gathering 
• horde 
• mass 
• mob 
• multitude 
• sellout 
• swarm