ENGLISH
REFERENCE

throng

n. countable
C1 Advanced US //ˈθɹɔŋ// UK //θɹˈɒŋ// throng

n. a very large and crowded group of people. You use this word when there are so many people in one place that it is hard to move.

n. a large, dense, and often disorderly crowd of people. Often used to describe the movement of a mass of people toward a specific destination.


SIMPLE

A huge throng of fans waited outside the stadium.

CONTEXTUAL

The narrow streets were filled with a noisy throng of tourists eager to see the ancient ruins.

COMPLEX

As the gates finally opened, a massive throng surged forward, creating a wave of bodies that overwhelmed the security checkpoints and spilled into the adjacent plaza.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English throng, thrang, from Old English þrang, ġeþrang (“crowd, press, tumult”), from Proto-Germanic þrangwą, þrangwō (“throng”), from þrangwaz (“pressing, narrow”), from Proto-Indo-European trenkʷ- (“to beat; pound; hew; press”). Cognate with Dutch drang, German Drang. Compare also German Gedränge (“throng”).

© 2026 English Reference