crowd1 nouncrowd2 verb
crowdcrowd1 /kraʊd/ ●●● S3 W2 noun 
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- a crowd of angry protesters
- A crowd of reporters were waiting for her at the airport.
- a football crowd
- A huge crowd gathered to hear Mandela speak.
- An enormous crowd gathered to watch the parade.
- He wasn't with his usual crowd last night.
- I don't go to football games because I don't like big crowds.
- I guess the usual crowd will be at the party.
- I walked down Regent Street, with its crowds of tourists and Christmas shoppers.
- It may be necessary to change your child's school if they get in with a bad crowd.
- The exhibition is expected to attract large crowds of visitors.
- But in the winter, cluster flies aggregate in thick black crowds jammed into cracks and crannies inside the house.
- He braced as he was swallowed up by the adoring crowd and swept toward the door by the moving mass.
- I turned back towards the crowd.
- I watched as he found Doriot and hand in hand they moved more deeply into the crowd.
- Immobile among the moving crowd, he stood there and watched.
- In this frigid season, crowds lined up to buy sugar, milk, chocolate and potatoes.
- It is surprising that no crowd reaction to the miracle is given.
- Teenagers with sporty slogans on the back of their jackets sat attentively amid the rest of the crowd.
THESAURUS
a large number of people together in one place: · The exhibition is expected to attract large crowds of visitors.
a crowd of noisy and violent people who are difficult to control: · The mob set fire to cars and buildings.
a very large crowd which is not moving and which is very difficult to move through: · the mass of people in the station
a large crowd of people, especially people who are behaving in a way that you disapprove of or that annoys you: · the hordes of tourists on the island
[plural] a crowd of people – used especially when you are talking about a crowd of people who move from one place to another: · The public came in droves to see the event.
literary a very large crowd: · A great throng had gathered to listen to his speech.
a large group of people of the same type, especially when they have a leader: · A flock of children were being shown through the museum.
a group of people of the same type, especially a group you do not approve of: · A pack of reporters shouted questions.
a large crowd of people who are moving quickly in many directions in a very uncontrolled way: · a swarm of children in the playground
a crowd of people who are pressed close together: · There was such a crush on the Metro this morning.
formal literary a very large number of people, especially ordinary people: · The Emperor came out to speak to the multitude.
→ group1Longman Language Activatora large number of people together in a public place a large number of people together in one place: · I don't go to football games because I don't like big crowds.crowd of: · a crowd of angry protesterscrowds of people/visitors/tourists etc: · The exhibition is expected to attract large crowds of visitors.
a large crowd of people who are behaving in a way that you disapprove of or that annoys you: horde/hordes of: · She was chased down the steps of the courthouse by a horde of reporters and camera crews.· This time of year is perfect to visit New York because it isn't overrun with the hordes of tourists.
a crowd of noisy and violent people who are difficult to control: · The mob set fire to cars and buildings.mob of: · A mob of fans caused millions of pounds worth of damage in the area surrounding the stadium.
a very large crowd which is not moving and which is very difficult to move through: mass of: · A mass of people stood before the courthouse.seething mass (=when there are far too many people all pushing and trying to go somewhere): · The bus station was a seething mass of people.
a large crowd of people who are moving quickly in many directions in a very uncontrolled way: swarm of: · Outside the school a swarm of small children ran around shouting and laughing.
a very large crowd: · The throng greeted Sutter with cheers and applause.throng of: · a throng of reporters· Animals and carts moved along the dusty road with the throng of refugees.
a crowd of people who are all pressed close together so that it is very difficult to move between them: · Unable to get out of the crush, Chris began to panic.· A number of people fainted in the crush.· There was chaos as people tried to escape the flames and two children were badly injured in the crush.
when a place is full of people so full of people that it is difficult to move or find a place to sit or stand: · The train was really crowded.· a crowded elevatorcrowded with: · It was two weeks before Christmas and the mall was crowded with shoppers.
also packed out informal so full of people that there is almost no space left: · The club is so popular that it's usually packed by 9 o'clock.packed with: · St Peter's Square was packed with tourists.jam-packed (=completely full): · The football ground was absolutely jam-packed.
a place that is overcrowded has too many people in it and is unpleasant and uncomfortable: · The buses are filthy and overcrowded.· overcrowded prisons
if a place is swarming with people it is so crowded with them that it is difficult to move around - use this especially when a place is full of people you disapprove of or when you are annoyed that a place is so crowded: · The place was swarming with noisy schoolkids.
very full of people and activity: · the teeming streets of Cairoteeming with: · It was the start of the new semester, and the campus was teeming with students.
when a crowd fills a place if people crowd a place, they fill it and move around in it: · Shoppers crowded the town market.crowd aroundalso round British: · A large group of people crowded around the screaming child.· Fans crowded around the rear entrance of the concert hall, hoping to catch a glimpse of the band.
if a lot of people fill a place, there are so many of them that there is no room left for any more: · An audience of over 5,000 had filled the hall that night.· Visitors fill Brighton's streets during the summer.
if a lot of people mill around , they move around a place in different directions, without any particular aim, especially while waiting for something: · People were milling around in the corridor, waiting for the show to start.· About 40 onlookers milled about while detectives examined the scene.
if a lot of people, especially people that you do not like or approve of, swarm around a particular place, they fill it and move around it: swarm across/along etc: · Every day tourists swarm through the narrow streets of the old city.· Hundreds of troops swarmed across the border.
when people come together to make a crowd if people gather , they meet or come together and form a crowd: · By the time the president arrived, a large crowd had gathered.gather around/at/in etc: · Angry workers were gathering on the steps of City Hall.· A crowd gathered around to watch the fight.
if a crowd forms , more and more people join a group of people who are already watching or listening to something: · A crowd was beginning to form at the scene of the accident.
if people congregate in a particular place, a large number of them meet there, especially regularly in the same place, and at the same time: congregate at/in/around etc: · On Friday evening, teenagers congregate outside the bars on Greene Street.· Marchers were due to congregate at Market Square for an open-air meeting.
formal if groups of people converge in a particular place, they come there from many different places and meet together with others to form a large crowd, in order to do something or go somewhere: converge on: · The two groups of demonstrators converged on Hyde Park.· About 20,000 motorcyclists will converge on Milwaukee this weekend, to celebrate the 90th birthday of the Harley Davidson bike company.
if a crowd collects , people gradually come together so that there is a crowd, usually because they stop to watch or listen to something: · An hour or so before the press conference, a crowd began to collect outside the building.· A crowd was starting to collect outside the theatre to await the arrival of the prime minister.
when a crowd separates if a crowd disperses , people begin to move away from it: · Once the ambulance had left, the crowd began to disperse.
if a crowd breaks up , people start to leave and move away in small groups: · When the police arrived, the crowd broke up very quickly.
if a crowd thins out , people gradually leave so that there are fewer of them in the crowd: · By midnight, the crowds outside the concert hall were beginning to thin out.· I decided to wait until the crowd thinned out a bit before trying to leave.
if a crowd melts away , the people leave gradually and quietly, hoping that no one will notice: · The excitement of the arrest was over and the crowd began to melt away.
to make a crowd separate if the police or the army disperses a crowd, they make it separate, and people leave in different directions: · National Guard troops were called in to disperse the crowd.
if someone, especially the police, breaks up a crowd, they make it separate, and people go away in small groups: · The police had to use tear gas to break up the protest.
to do the same things as other people in a group to do the same as the rest of a group of people because you have not really thought about what you want or because you do not want to disagree with what most people think: · That experience taught me never to follow the crowd blindly.· It's hard, as an investor, to resist the urge to go along with the crowd, but that isn't where the money is.
to do the same as a lot of other people are doing because you think there will be some advantage for you or because it is fashionable: · When they realized there was money to be made from games such as snooker, sportswear advertisers soon jumped on the bandwagon.· Opposition leaders have accused the government of jumping on the asylum seeker bandwagon.
a group of friends also circle the people you know, especially a group of friends who all know each other and often meet socially: · He had a large circle of friends.· Since my children have started school, my circle has widened to include the mothers of other kids.
spoken a group of male or female friends who often do things together: · Sally's having a night out with the girls from the office.· It's his poker night with the boys.
informal a small group of friends who often meet socially: · I usually go out with the gang on Saturday nights.one of the gang (=accepted into the group of friends): · She's not really one of the gang, but I invited her to the party.
informal a group of friends who often do things or go out together: · He wasn't with his usual crowd last night.· It may be necessary to change your child's school if they get in with a bad crowd.
: the tennis/golf club/arty etc set a group of friends who meet socially, especially because they are all interested in the same sport or activity, especially an expensive one: · She likes to mingle with the arty set.
a group of people who know each other, and will help each other, even if this means being slightly dishonest: · Weiss was careful not to upset his political cronies.· Her father is probably in the bar, drinking with his cronies.
a group of people who do things together · The tickets are expensive, but there is a discount for school groups.group of · A group of us went out for a drink to celebrate Sonia's birthday.in groups · Robberies were common on the lonely roads, so people usually travelled in groups.in groups of three/four etc · We were warned not to walk in the mountains except in groups of three or more.
a group of people that someone has organized in order to go somewhere or do something: · A party of Japanese businessmen will be visiting the factory next week.party of: · John was taking a party of tourists around the museum.a search/rescue party (=a group of people trying to find and help someone who is in danger): · The climbers did not return, and a search party was sent out to look for them.
especially spoken, informal a group of people who do things together or spend time together: · The people on my French course are a really friendly bunch.bunch/crowd of: · There was the usual crowd of students standing at the bar.· Willy's band is playing tonight, and I invited a bunch of people to come along
a group of young people who spend time together, especially a group that causes trouble, fights with other groups etc: · Inner-city kids often join gangs for protection, and for the chance to make money by selling drugs.gang of youths/kids: · There are always gangs of kids hanging around the shopping mall.gang member/leader: · It is not just gang members who get into trouble - it's middle-class and upper-class kids as well.rival gang (=a gang that fights with another gang): · Fighting broke out between two rival gangs.
a group of people representing a particular country, organization, belief etc: · Not surprisingly, there was a large student contingent at the demonstration.· There was a large American contingent, including the Olympic bronze medallist, Thomas Jefferson. contingent of: · A small contingent of English fans had made the trip to Sydney to support their team.
a group of people together in one place several people who are together in the same place: · A small group had gathered outside the stage door.group of: · Outside the school, little groups of friends were talking to each other.· an old photograph of a group of soldiers sitting on the groundin groups (=forming separate groups): · Men stood in groups on street corners.get into groups (=make groups with other people so that you can do something together): · The teacher told us to get into groups of three.
a large number of people who are all together in the same place: · A huge crowd gathered to hear Mandela speak.· a football crowdcrowd of: · A crowd of reporters were waiting for her at the airport.crowds of people/tourists/shoppers etc (=a lot of people in the same place): · I walked down Regent Street with its crowds of tourists and Christmas shoppers.
a group of people standing or sitting very close to each other, for example in order to see something or talk to someone: cluster of: · A cluster of people, all anxious to shake his hand, formed around the speaker.· Some relatives were standing in a cluster around her hospital bed.
a small group of people all sitting or standing very close to each other: knot of: · The knot of men at the bar had started talking about the elections.· Outside the hotel, a little knot of bystanders had gathered to see what was happening.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRYverbs
Police used fire hoses and dogs for crowd control. A crowd gathered to watch the fight. The home team took the lead after 25 minutes. a sellout crowd of 32,000 She always stood out in a crowd.
· A large crowd had gathered to watch the procession go past.
(=shouts to show praise, support etc)· The crowd cheered as the team came onto the pitch.
(=shouts in a very excited way)· As the band appeared the crowd roared in approval.
(=moves forward all together)· Police officers began to lose control and the crowd surged forward.
(=goes away in different directions)· Seeing there would be no more entertainment, the crowd began to disperse.
· A crowd lined the street to catch a glimpse of the president.
· The ceremony is expected to draw a crowd of more than 1,000.
(=make a lot of people come to something)· Low prices always pull in the crowds.
(=make a crowd go away in different directions)· A few warning shots were fired in an attempt to disperse the crowd.
(=join a crowd to be social or in order not to be noticed)· The actors went outside to talk to and mingle with the crowd.
adjectives· A big crowd is expected tomorrow for the final match.
(=a big one)· There was a good crowd on the first night of the show.
(=the maximum number of people that a place can hold)· The band performed brilliantly to a capacity crowd.
(=one that has bought all the tickets for something)· The team won in front of a sellout crowd of 17,765.
(=the biggest one there has ever been)· They were playing before a record crowd of 50,000.
(=a very big one)· As usual there was a bumper crowd at the festival.
phrases· I pushed my way through the crowd of people.
(=of people who stop to watch something that is happening)· A crowd of onlookers had gathered to see what all the fuss was about.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES· In the summer the beaches get very crowded.
(=the largest number of people that can fit in a place)· A capacity crowd of 40,000 turned up at the stadium.
· Families here are living in dirty, overcrowded conditions.
Police used fire hoses and dogs for crowd control.· It’s nice to see such an enthusiastic crowd at the match.
· We got caught up in a noisy football crowd.
A crowd gathered to watch the fight. The home team took the lead after 25 minutes. a sellout crowd of 32,000 She always stood out in a crowd. (=with a lot of people)· The streets get very crowded at weekends.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE· In the postwar euphoria big crowds flocked regularly to the Oval to see the attacking cricket on which Surridge insisted.· Moore has never brought in big crowds on her own.· They bring out the big crowds which stimulate the competition.· Our guys respond well to big crowds.· Pavements are wide and there's room for a big, happy crowd.· Fifty was a big crowd for a University of Connecticut game.· There's another high bore tommorrow - when big weekend crowds are expected to line the banks to watch the surfing spectacular.· This was their biggest crowd of the summer.
· It attracts huge crowds to exhibitions and fetches high prices at auctions in New York, London and Paris.· Stephenson drew huge, rabid crowds on his barnstorming tours of the Indiana countryside.· The huge crowd spontaneously broke into applause.· Stores all over Paris were mobbed Friday, with huge crowds massing outside stores even before opening time.· Today, huge crowds gathered to watch John and girlfriend Jill Morrell launch their new book in Oxford.· There was a huge crowd there.· Royal Ascot would otherwise not be able to go ahead next Tuesday unless huge crowd restrictions were introduced.· Then a day after being called up he picks up his first-ever win in front of a huge crowd.
· Very large crowds attended on the Friday, although not as vast as on the first day.· Because of the large crowd expected, the city moved it from the A.L.· Clubs did not compete with one another to attract larger crowds by reducing their prices.· His patronage to confessors is attributed to the large crowds he attracted to the confessionals.· Is it having people looking at you or having to speak to a large crowd when you have never done that before?· His voice was vigorous and his tone was sharp as he spoke to large crowds at two campaign rallies.· Otherwise, the plush arena and a large crowd might prove too much to handle.
· The sellout Forum crowd stood and applauded while play commenced.· The sellout crowd of 19,925 certainly enjoyed watching Iverson score 47 points on 17-for-33 shooting in 44 minutes.
· Two lorries crammed with riot policemen arrived and fired tear-gas canisters, rapidly dispersing the small crowd, which included news photographers.· A small crowd of living stood watching the growing crowd of dead.· A small crowd gathered in the street and was watching through the shattered window.· They came upon a small crowd gathered around a long wooden table that had posters of Sophia Loren hanging along the front.· There was already a small crowd around the screaming child.· To his chagrin, only a small crowd turned out to watch him.· A small crowd had gathered, craning their necks towards David, and muttering.· There was a small crowd of people around.
NOUN· They didn't get the 60,000 capacity crowd.· Her body was worn out from performing to a capacity crowd at Town Hall.· There was a highly enthusiastic capacity crowd.· The match will be all-ticket with an anticipated 25,000 capacity crowd and distribution arrangements will be announced shortly.· A capacity crowd of 40,000 turned up.· But there were no complaints from the capacity crowd at Darlington Civic Theatre on opening night.· We haven't got the capacity crowd we expected.
· Nearly 400 road marshals will be involved in crowd control.· He saw the storm-troopers practising karate, crowd control, baton practice and their skills with the knife and knuckleduster.· The cop who'd collected her had been a crowd control unit, the full cyborg.· Second, it gets a head start on the crowd control that the rest of the service will require.· Lancashire introduced extra crowd control measures for the Test and the one-day international.
· The home crowd use other crossing points.· He played before home crowds of 5, 000 for three coaches on teams that never won more than they lost.· The home crowd definitely helped us.· The first try came after five minutes and prompted a cheerful roar from the home crowd.· A novelty for the home crowd at reserve matches in 1924-25 was music from gramophone records broadcast through a loudspeaker.
VERB· Sukarno began to tour Java, addressing massive crowds on the theme of the awakening of national consciousness.· Leaders of the opposition coalition Zajedno, or Together, address the crowd.· Finbar O'Doherty was cheered loudly when he mounted the stairway to address the crowd.· DiMaggio did not address the crowd, but when he lifted his arms to receive their cheers, no words were necessary.· A mixture of sorrow and jubilation punctuated the voices of those who addressed the crowds.· In addition to addressing the crowds as he journeyed through Galilee and around Jerusalem, he drew aside to be with his closest associates.· He addressed a crowd of his civilian supporters at Baabda on Oct. 12, when he only narrowly escaped an assassination attempt.
· Models were attracting crowds unseen for years.· He must have suspected that a Madness gig would attract a football crowd.· To attract crowds large enough to fill up the ornate space, big spectacles were de rigueur.· Clubs did not compete with one another to attract larger crowds by reducing their prices.· Cole attracted crowds to Fillmore clubs.· It attracts huge crowds to exhibitions and fetches high prices at auctions in New York, London and Paris.· If the band don't attract a sell-out crowd, the promoter's risk has been minimized.
· They bring out the big crowds which stimulate the competition.· She brought the crowd to its feet after both her floor exercise and her vault, drawing team-high scores in both.· Tell him to bring a crowd of law officers and a local judge to the inn.· Somehow, in a quiet, under-stated way, Frank could always bring a crowd.· And then in the final minute came the try that brought the crowd to their feet.· Moore has never brought in big crowds on her own.· Ripley brought the crowd to their feet with his stunning winner.· Umphrey brought roars from the crowd with an exciting high bar routine.
· A till was hurled out into the cheering crowd, followed by burgers, potato chips and furniture.· President Kennedy was welcomed in the summer of 1962 by a cheering crowd estimated at more than 1 million.· Along the route they were greeted by cheering crowds and doused with rose water.· It would certainly cheer up this crowd and give everyone something to talk about for the next week.· Then he urged the cheering crowd to go out and prove the naysayers wrong and bring their friends to revivals.
· Two lorries crammed with riot policemen arrived and fired tear-gas canisters, rapidly dispersing the small crowd, which included news photographers.· Tense soldiers detonated concussion grenades in an effort to disperse the crowds.· Police used tear-gas, electric batons and sticks to disperse the crowds, arresting 20.· Federal troops were used to disperse a crowd that tried to storm the jail.· Several demonstrators were badly injured as police fired tear gas to disperse the crowd in Revolution Square last Saturday.· They dispersed a crowd of whites and seized weapons in the black section of town.· Police used water cannon to disperse a crowd on Portadown's Corcrain estate.· We dispersed the crowds away from the area.
· The railway draws a strange crowd before morning.· Its summer concerts, featuring such stars as Harry Belafonte and Boz Scaggs, draw crowds.· Henrietta's choral society concert draws a good crowd despite a dodgy venue in the backstreets of Catford.· It drew the crowds, I guess.· The Legionnaires march drew a large crowd of veterans, their families and some students.· Despite their current run of bad luck, the Giants are drawing record crowds at Scottsdale Stadium.· The all-Ireland press team should draw quite a crowd.· Roz always drew attention in a crowd.
· Organisers expect the crowds this year easily to exceed the record attendance of 170,000 over four days in 1992.· The evening gets started early at 7: 30 p. m. and sells out early, with an expected crowd of 320.· Sunderland also expect a big crowd for Friday night's £5,000 marathon challenge match.· In its first season this summer, it has played to slightly larger-than-expected crowds.· The Scarlets are expecting a capacity 14,500 crowd to bring in around £70,000.· But like others, she expects an overwhelming crowd.· Middlesbrough have sold their full 4,000 allocation and Wolves expect a 20,000 crowd.· An expected crowd of 250 will join Latin Jazz band Manteca and guests in a champagne toast at midnight.
· It was the one pub where students could be guaranteed not to gather in jabbering crowds: the reason was the clientele.· Chutra seemed ambivalent about the perpetually gathering crowds.· Their conversation was gathering a small crowd.
· She mingled with the crowds of young, untidy foreigners who lounged around the base of the statue in Piccadilly Circus.· And a short chubby woman with thick pebble-glass spectacles, Mary Dunn, mingled with the crowd.· For a few minutes longer, she mingled with the crowd, exchanging a word here and there.
· Yanto was one of those men who stood out in a crowd.· A small crowd of living stood watching the growing crowd of dead.· Nisodemus stood slightly ahead of the crowd, holding his hands in the air.· Irvin stood before the crowd at Texas Stadium that day and blistered the fans who ripped Switzer.· They stood amid the station crowds, arguing.· Primo and the man stand facing the crowd.· She had stood out in the crowd even amongst the beautiful beach children of San Francisco.· And I was standing over with the crowd of my brothers and sisters.
· Ten minutes later Castro reappeared and told the crowd he would finish his speech on television that same evening.· One of the security guys started telling the crowd a lot of otter stories.
· Southworth had his head turned, watching the crowds.· A small crowd of living stood watching the growing crowd of dead.· Then, as she watched, the crowd parted and a man came towards her.· The fight was between five men who were being watched by a screaming crowd of about 60 onlookers.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► two’s company, three’s a crowd► crowd-pleaser/audience-pleaser etc► two’s company, three’s a crowd
- All they get is sad sheep for fans ... who just follow the crowd - try and be uncontroversial.
- But Viroli is not one simply to follow the herd.
- I follow the crowd back to a coffee shop.
- The only advice from Miss Doris was to follow the crowd.
- We were never part of the in-crowd in high school.
- The Beastline were standing close together, silhouetted against the sky.
- The main street in Lincoln is narrow, and the little houses are close together.
- These horses show relaxed, peaceful outlines, with friends standing particularly close together.
- They stood close together in silence, listening.
- Though they are close together on the couch, there is in fact a chasm between them.
- We draw close together to complete our plans.
WORD FAMILYnouncrowdovercrowdingadjectivecrowdedovercrowdedverbcrowd
1[countable] a large group of people who have gathered together to do something, for example to watch something or protest about somethingcrowd of a crowd of angry protesters a crowd of 30,000 spectators There were crowds of shoppers in the street. A vast crowd gathered in the main square. She mingled with the crowd of guests, exchanging greetings. Saturday’s game was watched by a capacity crowd (=the maximum number of people that a sports ground etc can hold). Troops fired tear gas and shots to disperse a crowd of 15,000 demonstrators.► see thesaurus at group2[singular] informal a group of people who know each other, work together etc: I didn’t know him; he wasn’t one of the usual crowd.3the crowd ordinary people, not unusual in any way: You have to do things exceptionally well to stand out from the crowd (=be different from ordinary people). He wanted to go unnoticed, to be one of the crowd.COLLOCATIONSverbsa crowd gathers· A large crowd had gathered to watch the procession go past.a crowd cheers (=shouts to show praise, support etc)· The crowd cheered as the team came onto the pitch.a crowd roars (=shouts in a very excited way)· As the band appeared the crowd roared in approval.a crowd surges forward (=moves forward all together)· Police officers began to lose control and the crowd surged forward.a crowd disperses/breaks up (=goes away in different directions)· Seeing there would be no more entertainment, the crowd began to disperse.a crowd lines the street/route etc· A crowd lined the street to catch a glimpse of the president.attract/draw a crowd· The ceremony is expected to draw a crowd of more than 1,000.pull a crowd/pull in the crowds (=make a lot of people come to something)· Low prices always pull in the crowds.disperse/break up a crowd (=make a crowd go away in different directions)· A few warning shots were fired in an attempt to disperse the crowd.mingle/mix with the crowd (=join a crowd to be social or in order not to be noticed)· The actors went outside to talk to and mingle with the crowd.adjectivesa big/large/huge crowd· A big crowd is expected tomorrow for the final match.a good crowd (=a big one)· There was a good crowd on the first night of the show.a capacity crowd (=the maximum number of people that a place can hold)· The band performed brilliantly to a capacity crowd.a sellout crowd (=one that has bought all the tickets for something)· The team won in front of a sellout crowd of 17,765.a record crowd (=the biggest one there has ever been)· They were playing before a record crowd of 50,000.a bumper crowd (=a very big one)· As usual there was a bumper crowd at the festival.phrasesa crowd of people· I pushed my way through the crowd of people.a crowd of onlookers (=of people who stop to watch something that is happening)· A crowd of onlookers had gathered to see what all the fuss was about.THESAURUScrowd a large number of people together in one place: · The exhibition is expected to attract large crowds of visitors.mob a crowd of noisy and violent people who are difficult to control: · The mob set fire to cars and buildings.mass a very large crowd which is not moving and which is very difficult to move through: · the mass of people in the stationhorde a large crowd of people, especially people who are behaving in a way that you disapprove of or that annoys you: · the hordes of tourists on the islanddroves [plural] a crowd of people – used especially when you are talking about a crowd of people who move from one place to another: · The public came in droves to see the event.throng literary a very large crowd: · A great throng had gathered to listen to his speech.flock a large group of people of the same type, especially when they have a leader: · A flock of children were being shown through the museum.pack a group of people of the same type, especially a group you do not approve of: · A pack of reporters shouted questions.swarm a large crowd of people who are moving quickly in many directions in a very uncontrolled way: · a swarm of children in the playgroundcrush a crowd of people who are pressed close together: · There was such a crush on the Metro this morning.multitude formal literary a very large number of people, especially ordinary people: · The Emperor came out to speak to the multitude. → group1crowd1 nouncrowd2 verb
crowdcrowd2 ●●○ verb WORD ORIGINcrowd2
Origin:
Old English crudan ‘to press close’VERB TABLE
crowd
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | crowd |
| he, she, it | crowds | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | crowded |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have crowded |
| he, she, it | has crowded | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had crowded |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will crowd |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have crowded |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am crowding |
| he, she, it | is crowding | |
| you, we, they | are crowding | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was crowding |
| you, we, they | were crowding | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been crowding |
| he, she, it | has been crowding | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been crowding |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be crowding |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been crowding |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- A jumble of confused thoughts crowded my brain.
- A large group of people crowded around the screaming child.
- Angry protesters crowded the courthouse steps.
- Fans crowded around the rear entrance of the concert hall, hoping to catch a glimpse of the band.
- Shoppers crowded the town market.
- Stop crowding me! I need time to make this decision.
- Stop crowding me! There's plenty of room.
- An increase in the number of locally-issued debt could push yields higher by crowding out demand for government bonds.
Longman Language Activatora large number of people together in a public place
a large number of people together in one place: · I don't go to football games because I don't like big crowds.crowd of: · a crowd of angry protesterscrowds of people/visitors/tourists etc: · The exhibition is expected to attract large crowds of visitors.
a large crowd of people who are behaving in a way that you disapprove of or that annoys you: horde/hordes of: · She was chased down the steps of the courthouse by a horde of reporters and camera crews.· This time of year is perfect to visit New York because it isn't overrun with the hordes of tourists.
a crowd of noisy and violent people who are difficult to control: · The mob set fire to cars and buildings.mob of: · A mob of fans caused millions of pounds worth of damage in the area surrounding the stadium.
a very large crowd which is not moving and which is very difficult to move through: mass of: · A mass of people stood before the courthouse.seething mass (=when there are far too many people all pushing and trying to go somewhere): · The bus station was a seething mass of people.
a large crowd of people who are moving quickly in many directions in a very uncontrolled way: swarm of: · Outside the school a swarm of small children ran around shouting and laughing.
a very large crowd: · The throng greeted Sutter with cheers and applause.throng of: · a throng of reporters· Animals and carts moved along the dusty road with the throng of refugees.
a crowd of people who are all pressed close together so that it is very difficult to move between them: · Unable to get out of the crush, Chris began to panic.· A number of people fainted in the crush.· There was chaos as people tried to escape the flames and two children were badly injured in the crush.
when a place is full of people so full of people that it is difficult to move or find a place to sit or stand: · The train was really crowded.· a crowded elevatorcrowded with: · It was two weeks before Christmas and the mall was crowded with shoppers.
also packed out informal so full of people that there is almost no space left: · The club is so popular that it's usually packed by 9 o'clock.packed with: · St Peter's Square was packed with tourists.jam-packed (=completely full): · The football ground was absolutely jam-packed.
a place that is overcrowded has too many people in it and is unpleasant and uncomfortable: · The buses are filthy and overcrowded.· overcrowded prisons
if a place is swarming with people it is so crowded with them that it is difficult to move around - use this especially when a place is full of people you disapprove of or when you are annoyed that a place is so crowded: · The place was swarming with noisy schoolkids.
very full of people and activity: · the teeming streets of Cairoteeming with: · It was the start of the new semester, and the campus was teeming with students.
when a crowd fills a place if people crowd a place, they fill it and move around in it: · Shoppers crowded the town market.crowd aroundalso round British: · A large group of people crowded around the screaming child.· Fans crowded around the rear entrance of the concert hall, hoping to catch a glimpse of the band.
if a lot of people fill a place, there are so many of them that there is no room left for any more: · An audience of over 5,000 had filled the hall that night.· Visitors fill Brighton's streets during the summer.
if a lot of people mill around , they move around a place in different directions, without any particular aim, especially while waiting for something: · People were milling around in the corridor, waiting for the show to start.· About 40 onlookers milled about while detectives examined the scene.
if a lot of people, especially people that you do not like or approve of, swarm around a particular place, they fill it and move around it: swarm across/along etc: · Every day tourists swarm through the narrow streets of the old city.· Hundreds of troops swarmed across the border.
when people come together to make a crowd if people gather , they meet or come together and form a crowd: · By the time the president arrived, a large crowd had gathered.gather around/at/in etc: · Angry workers were gathering on the steps of City Hall.· A crowd gathered around to watch the fight.
if a crowd forms , more and more people join a group of people who are already watching or listening to something: · A crowd was beginning to form at the scene of the accident.
if people congregate in a particular place, a large number of them meet there, especially regularly in the same place, and at the same time: congregate at/in/around etc: · On Friday evening, teenagers congregate outside the bars on Greene Street.· Marchers were due to congregate at Market Square for an open-air meeting.
formal if groups of people converge in a particular place, they come there from many different places and meet together with others to form a large crowd, in order to do something or go somewhere: converge on: · The two groups of demonstrators converged on Hyde Park.· About 20,000 motorcyclists will converge on Milwaukee this weekend, to celebrate the 90th birthday of the Harley Davidson bike company.
if a crowd collects , people gradually come together so that there is a crowd, usually because they stop to watch or listen to something: · An hour or so before the press conference, a crowd began to collect outside the building.· A crowd was starting to collect outside the theatre to await the arrival of the prime minister.
when a crowd separates if a crowd disperses , people begin to move away from it: · Once the ambulance had left, the crowd began to disperse.
if a crowd breaks up , people start to leave and move away in small groups: · When the police arrived, the crowd broke up very quickly.
if a crowd thins out , people gradually leave so that there are fewer of them in the crowd: · By midnight, the crowds outside the concert hall were beginning to thin out.· I decided to wait until the crowd thinned out a bit before trying to leave.
if a crowd melts away , the people leave gradually and quietly, hoping that no one will notice: · The excitement of the arrest was over and the crowd began to melt away.
to make a crowd separate if the police or the army disperses a crowd, they make it separate, and people leave in different directions: · National Guard troops were called in to disperse the crowd.
if someone, especially the police, breaks up a crowd, they make it separate, and people go away in small groups: · The police had to use tear gas to break up the protest.
to move into a position around someone or something to stand in a circle around someone or something, especially to prevent someone escaping: · Football fans ran onto the field and surrounded the referee.· Police officers moved to surround Evans as he came out of the courtroom.
also gather round if a group of people gathers around someone or something, they move nearer to them, for example in order to see or hear better: · A crowd of young boys had gathered round to admire the car.gather around somebody/something: · After supper we gathered around the kitchen table and listened to Grandma tell stories about her childhood.
if a group of people encircle someone or something, they move so that they are completely around them, making it impossible for them to escape: · Troops encircled the city and began firing rockets at the government buildings.· The photo showed the captive sitting down, encircled by several armed men.
also crowd round British if a group of people crowds around someone or something, they stand near them closely together, often pushing forward to see what is happening: · Fire officers asked the people who had crowded round to stand back.crowd around somebody/something: · Dozens of journalists crowded around the Princess and started asking her questions.
when a large number of people enter a country, place, city etc if a lot of people pour in or flood in , they all enter a place at the same time: · Once the region was declared safe, tourists started flooding in again.pour/flood into something: · An estimated 50,000 people poured into London over the weekend for the opening of the Commonwealth Games.
if a lot of people crowd in , they all enter a place, especially a place that is not big enough for so many people: · People kept crowding in, and one woman started to panic.crowd into something: · More than 100 people crowded into the fire station for Thursday night's council meeting.
if a group of people troop in they enter a place, often in a tired or unwilling way: · After the game they all trooped in to eat.troop into something: · Every morning we had to troop into the school hall for roll call.
if people trickle in , they enter a place gradually and not all at the same time: · A few fans had already started to trickle in.trickle into something: · The bell rang, and the students trickled into the class.
the sudden or unexpected arrival of a large number of people: influx of: · The influx of migrants to the city is estimated at 1,000 per week.· The sudden influx of families needing work and housing caused some problems at first.
a large number of people entering a place at the same time: flood of: · The company has employed a number of new staff to cope with the flood of visitors to the site.· A flood of refugees poured over the bridge to escape the fighting.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES Police used fire hoses and dogs for crowd control. A crowd gathered to watch the fight. The home team took the lead after 25 minutes. a sellout crowd of 32,000 She always stood out in a crowd.
· In the summer the beaches get very crowded.
(=the largest number of people that can fit in a place)· A capacity crowd of 40,000 turned up at the stadium.
· Families here are living in dirty, overcrowded conditions.
Police used fire hoses and dogs for crowd control.· It’s nice to see such an enthusiastic crowd at the match.
· We got caught up in a noisy football crowd.
A crowd gathered to watch the fight. The home team took the lead after 25 minutes. a sellout crowd of 32,000 She always stood out in a crowd. (=with a lot of people)· The streets get very crowded at weekends.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN· I was anxious to get out as it was stifling in there with no ventilation and all these people crowded in.· On the allotted day, some forty people crowded into an upstairs office at Vernon Yard.· Another 2, 000 people crowded the lobby.· When he stood for Parliament numbers of poor people crowded round the hustings demanding the payment of outstanding bills.· The fights in Seattle were broken up with pepper spray when as many as 4,000 people crowded into the streets.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► two’s company, three’s a crowd► crowd-pleaser/audience-pleaser etc► two’s company, three’s a crowd
- All they get is sad sheep for fans ... who just follow the crowd - try and be uncontroversial.
- But Viroli is not one simply to follow the herd.
- I follow the crowd back to a coffee shop.
- The only advice from Miss Doris was to follow the crowd.
- We were never part of the in-crowd in high school.
- The Beastline were standing close together, silhouetted against the sky.
- The main street in Lincoln is narrow, and the little houses are close together.
- These horses show relaxed, peaceful outlines, with friends standing particularly close together.
- They stood close together in silence, listening.
- Though they are close together on the couch, there is in fact a chasm between them.
- We draw close together to complete our plans.
WORD FAMILYnouncrowdovercrowdingadjectivecrowdedovercrowdedverbcrowd
1[intransitive always + adverb/preposition] if people crowd somewhere, they gather together in large numbers, filling a particular placecrowd into Hundreds of people crowded into the church for the funeral.crowd round/around We all crowded round the table.be crowded together the rapid spread of infection in areas where people are crowded together2[transitive] if people or things crowd a place, there are a lot of them there: Holidaymakers crowded the beaches. Range after range of mountains crowd the horizon.3[transitive] if thoughts or ideas crowd your mind or memory, they fill it, not allowing you to think of anything else: Strange thoughts and worries were crowding his mind.4[transitive] a)to make someone angry by moving too close to them: Stop crowding me – there’s plenty of room. b)especially American English to make someone angry or upset by making too many unfair demands on themcrowd in phrasal verb if problems or thoughts crowd in on you, you cannot stop thinking about themcrowd in on She shut her mind against the fears that crowded in on her.crowd somebody/something ↔ out phrasal verb to force someone or something out of a place or situation: Supermarket chains have crowded out the smaller shops.