English Reference
noun · verb

troupe

n. · v.
US /ˈtɹup/ UK /tɹˈuːp/ troupe UK spelling trouped, troupes, trouping

  1. 01 C2 Proficiency Literary

    n.any group of people who work together on the same activity.

    n.a group of people associated in a joint effort or shared activity.

    Simple

    A troupe of volunteers arrived early to help clean up the park.

    In context

    The small troupe of researchers spent years in the Arctic, isolated from the rest of the world while they gathered climate data.

  2. 02 C2 Proficiency Technical Theatre

    v.to travel and perform as part of a group.

    v.to travel or tour as a member of a theatrical company or performance group.

    Simple

    She spent her twenties trouping across Europe with a small opera company.

    In context

    After years of trouping in regional theatres, the actor finally secured a leading role on the West End stage.

    Usage

    The verb is intransitive and does not take a direct object.

Andrea maintains two separate Instagram accounts, a personal one and a professional one for his work – as well as appearing in a local theatre troupe he performs solo as a drag artist.

The Guardian· 22 Aug 2026

The dance is also well known in neighboring Singapore , thanks to visits by troupes from Java in the 1940s.

JSTOR Daily· 7 Aug 2026

Attested 1825; Unadapted borrowing from French troupe, which see for more. Doublet of troop, and possibly also of thorp and dorp.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Frequent
Updated