# swarm

/ˈswɔɹm/ (US) · /swˈɔːm/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/swarm
Updated: 2026-05-06

## Definition

a large group of insects, like bees, moving together in one direction. It can also describe a big, busy crowd of people.

For teachers: a large number of insects or small organisms, especially when in motion; by extension, a dense moving crowd of people or objects.

## Examples

- A swarm of bees gathered around the old oak tree.
- The security guards struggled to manage the swarm of fans waiting outside the stadium gates.
- In the context of decentralized computing, a swarm refers to a collective of independent agents or nodes that coordinate their actions to solve complex problems without a central controller.

## Usage notes

- Often used with the preposition 'of' followed by a plural noun.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.