Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense troops, present participle trooping, past tense, past participle trooped
1. plural noun
Troops are soldiers, especially when they are in a large organized group doing a particular task.
The operation will involve more than 35,000 troops from a dozen countries.
There were reports of troop movements.
Synonyms: soldiers, men, armed forces, service personnel More Synonyms of troop
2. countable noun [with singular or plural verb]
A troop is a group of soldiers within a cavalry or armoured regiment.
...a troop of enemy cavalry trotting towards the Dutch right flank. [+ of]
3. countable noun [usually with supplement]
A troop of scouts is a local group of them that meets regularly.
...a Scout troop.
4. countable noun
A troop of people or animals is a group of them.
Amy was aware of the little troop of travellers watching the two of them. [+ of]
Out of beams and cracks came troops of beetles, ants and spiders.
Synonyms: group, company, team, body More Synonyms of troop
5. verb
If people troop somewhere, they walk there in a group, often in a sad or tired way.
[informal]
They all trooped back to the house for a rest. [VERB adverb/preposition]
The men trooped into work with resignation. [VERB adverb/preposition]
Synonyms: plod, trail, tramp, trudge More Synonyms of troop
More Synonyms of troop
troop in British English
(truːp)
noun
1.
a large group or assembly; flock
a troop of children
2.
a subdivision of a cavalry squadron or artillery battery of about platoon size
3. (plural)
armed forces; soldiers
4.
a large group of Scouts comprising several patrols
5. an archaic spelling of troupe
verb
6. (intransitive)
to gather, move, or march in or as if in a crowd
7. (transitive) military, mainly British
to parade (the colour or flag) ceremonially
trooping the colour
8. (transitive) British military slang
(formerly) to report (a serviceman) for a breach of discipline
9. (intransitive) an archaic word for consort (sense 1)
Word origin
C16: from French troupe, from troupeau flock, of Germanic origin
troop in American English
(trup)
noun
1.
a group of persons, animals, or, formerly, things; herd, flock, band, etc.
2. Loosely
a great number; lot
3. [pl.]
a.
a body of soldiers
b.
soldiers
45 troops were killed
4.
a.
a subdivision of a mounted cavalry regiment
b.
an armored cavalry unit that corresponds to a company of infantry
5.
a unit of Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts under an adult leader
6. Archaic
a group of actors; troupe
verb intransitive
7.
to gather or go together in a throng
the crowd trooped out of the stadium
8.
to walk, go, or pass
children were trooping along the sidewalk
9. Archaic
to associate or consort
Idioms:
troop the colors
SYNONYMY NOTE: troop is applied to a group of people organized as a unit [a cavalry troop], or working or acting together in close cooperation [troops of sightseers]; troupe is the current form with reference to a group of performers, as in the theater ora circus; , company is the general word for any group of people associated in any of various ways; , band2 suggests a relatively small group of people closely united for some common purpose[a band of thieves, a brass band]
Word origin
Fr troupe < OFr, back-form. < troupeau < ML troppus, a flock < Frank *throp, a crowd; akin to OE thorp, village: see thorp
COBUILD Collocations
troop
additional troops
brave troops
elite troops
extra troops
foreign troops
injured troops
regular troops
Examples of 'troop' in a sentence
troop
Troops marched to the sound of military music.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
But clashes erupted between rebels and government troops.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
No charges have been brought against American troops for what happened that day.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
A troop of our cavalry recaptured the camels.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The advancing troops reached the German front line to find the wire cut to pieces and the trenches in ruins.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
It is intended for use at a range of three to six metres to knock enemy troops out of action without putting civilian lives at risk.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Instead, they depicted the lonely troops in real time, trudging to the next trench in the torn up countryside of an unfamiliar country.
Smithsonian Mag (2017)
Russia's global power on the basis of the projection of military power, he has to maintain his costly programme of military modernisation and troop deployment.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Troops have moved in and taken over one stretch of the safety zone.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Six others troops in the back were injured.
The Sun (2013)
The former official said that the special operations troops were highly effective.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Russian troops landed in transport aircraft and deployed.
Max Hastings Nemesis: The Battle for Japan, 194445 (2007)
There would be western casualties and the possibility that ground troops would have to be brought in.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Troops marched through the empty streets and others lined the route.
The Sun (2011)
He denied government troops had been behind the killings.
The Sun (2011)
You could jump into any vehicle and the enemy troops were spookily intelligent.
The Sun (2009)
Ground troops rely on artillery support and patrols regularly call in extra firepower to take out known insurgents.
The Sun (2010)
Press packs trooped through their house.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
During the war, he preached often to his troops.
Christianity Today (2000)
There were reports of fresh French troops.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
American troops would be withdrawn from Europe within two years.
Grenville, J. A. S. The Collins History of the World in the 20th Century (1994)
US special operations troops are involved in the other countries.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The basic tactical and administrative units of those forces were the regiment and troop for the cavalryand the battalion and company for the foot.
French, David The British way in Warfare - 1688-2000 (1990)
He is dubious about suggestions that a big new deployment of troops may be necessary to maintain momentum in the fight against the Taleban.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
At least 35,000 young people are on waiting lists as the organisation allegedly struggles to recruit enough adults to run Scout troops.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
In other languages
troop
British English: troop VERB
If people troop somewhere, they walk there in a group, often in a sad or tired way.
They all trooped back to the house for a rest.
American English: troop
Brazilian Portuguese: andar em tropa
Chinese: 成群结队地走尤指悲伤或疲惫地
European Spanish: entrar en tropel
French: aller en groupeN
German: ziehen
Italian: andare in gruppo
Japanese: ぞろぞろ群がって動く
Korean: 무리지어 걸어가다
European Portuguese: andar em tropa
Latin American Spanish: entrar en tropel
Chinese translation of 'troop'
troop
(truːp)
n(c)
[of people, animals]群 (qún)
[of soldiers]队(隊) (duì)
vi
to troop in/out结(結)队(隊)进(進)/出 (jiéduì jìn/chū)
Derived Forms
troopsn, pl(c) (Mil) 部队(隊) (bùduì) (支, zhī)
1 (noun)
Definition
a large group
She was aware of a little troop of travellers watching them.
Synonyms
group
a small group of football supporters
company
He was a notable young actor in a company of rising stars.
team
Mr Hunter and his management team
body
The great body of people moved slowly forward.
unit
a secret military unit
band
bands of government soldiers
crowd
It took some two hours before the crowd was fully dispersed.
pack
a pack of journalists who wanted to interview him
squad
The club is under investigation by the fraud squad.
gathering
He spoke today before a large gathering of world leaders.
crew (informal)
a motley crew of college friends
drove
Scientists are leaving the country in droves.
gang
He was attacked by a gang of strangers.
bunch (informal)
The players were a great bunch.
flock
his flock of advisors
herd
large herds of elephant and buffalo
contingent
There were contingents from the navies of virtually all UN countries.
swarm
A swarm of people encircled the hotel.
horde
A horde of people was screaming for tickets.
multitude
the multitudes that surround the Pope
throng
An official pushed through the throng.
posse (informal)
bevy
a bevy of reporters
assemblage
a chaotic assemblage of drifters and ruffians
2 (noun)
Definition
soldiers
the deployment of more than 35,000 troops from a dozen countries
Synonyms
soldiers
men
armed forces
servicemen
fighting men
military
army
After returning from abroad, he joined the army.
soldiery
1 (verb)
Definition
to move in a crowd
They all trooped back to the house for a rest.
Synonyms
plod
He plodded slowly up the hill.
trail
I spent a long afternoon trailing behind him.
tramp
They put on their coats and tramped through the fallen snow.
trudge
We had to trudge up the track back to the station.
traipse
I traipsed from one doctor to another.
drag yourself
schlep (US, informal)
2 (verb)
Definition
to move in a crowd
The VIPs trooped into the hall and sat down.
Synonyms
flock
The crowds flocked around her.
march
A Scottish battalion was marching down the street.
crowd
A throng of fashionable young people crowded around the stage.
stream
parade
More than four thousand people paraded down the Champs Elysées.
swarm
People swarmed to the shops, buying up everything in sight.
throng
the multitudes that throng around the Pope
traipse (informal)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of army
Definition
the military land forces of a nation
After returning from abroad, he joined the army.
Synonyms
soldiers,
military,
troops,
armed force,
legions,
infantry,
military force,
land forces,
land force,
soldiery
in the sense of assemblage
Definition
a collection or group of things
a chaotic assemblage of drifters and ruffians
Synonyms
group,
company,
meeting,
body,
crowd,
collection,
mass,
gathering,
rally,
assembly,
flock,
congregation,
accumulation,
multitude,
throng,
hui (New Zealand),
conclave,
aggregation,
convocation (formal),
runanga (New Zealand)
in the sense of band
Definition
having legs curved outwards at the knees
bands of government soldiers
Synonyms
gang,
company,
group,
set,
party,
team,
lot,
club,
body,
association,
crowd,
troop,
pack,
camp,
squad,
crew (informal),
assembly,
mob,
horde,
troupe,
posse (informal),
clique,
coterie,
bevy
Synonyms of 'troop'
troop
Explore 'troop' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of bevy
Definition
a flock
a bevy of reporters
Synonyms
group,
company,
set,
party,
band,
crowd,
troop,
pack,
collection,
gathering,
gang,
bunch (informal),
cluster,
congregation,
clump,
troupe,
posse (slang),
clique,
coterie,
assemblage
in the sense of body
The great body of people moved slowly forward.
Synonyms
mass,
company,
press,
army,
host,
crowd,
majority,
assembly,
mob,
herd,
swarm,
horde,
multitude,
throng,
bevy
in the sense of bunch
Definition
a group or company
The players were a great bunch.
Synonyms
group,
band,
crowd,
party,
team,
troop,
gathering,
crew (informal),
gang,
knot,
mob,
flock,
swarm,
multitude,
posse (informal),
bevy
in the sense of company
Definition
a number of people gathered together
He was a notable young actor in a company of rising stars.
Synonyms
group,
troupe,
set,
community,
league,
band,
crowd,
camp,
collection,
gathering,
circle,
crew (informal),
assembly,
convention,
ensemble,
throng,
coterie,
bevy,
assemblage,
party,
body
in the sense of contingent
Definition
a group of people with a common interest, that represents a larger group
There were contingents from the navies of virtually all UN countries.
Synonyms
group,
detachment,
deputation,
set,
body,
section,
bunch (informal),
quota,
batch
in the sense of crew
Definition
any group of people
a motley crew of college friends
Synonyms
crowd,
set,
lot,
bunch (informal),
band,
troop,
pack,
camp,
gang,
mob,
herd,
swarm,
company,
horde,
posse (informal),
assemblage
in the sense of crowd
Definition
a large number of things or people gathered together
It took some two hours before the crowd was fully dispersed.
Synonyms
multitude,
mass,
assembly,
throng,
company,
press,
army,
host,
pack,
mob,
flock,
herd,
swarm,
horde,
rabble,
concourse,
bevy
in the sense of crowd
Definition
to gather together in large numbers
A throng of fashionable young people crowded around the stage.
Synonyms
flock,
press,
push,
mass,
collect,
gather,
stream,
surge,
cluster,
muster,
huddle,
swarm,
throng,
congregate,
foregather
in the sense of drove
Definition
a moving crowd of people
Scientists are leaving the country in droves.
Synonyms
herd,
company,
crowds,
collection,
gathering,
mob,
flocks,
swarm,
horde,
multitude,
throng
in the sense of gang
Definition
a group of people who go around together, often to commit crime
He was attacked by a gang of strangers.
Synonyms
group,
crowd,
pack,
company,
party,
lot,
band,
crew (informal),
bunch,
mob,
horde
Additional synonyms
in the sense of gathering
Definition
a group of people, usually meeting for some particular purpose
He spoke today before a large gathering of world leaders.
Synonyms
assembly,
group,
crowd,
meeting,
conference,
company,
party,
congress,
mass,
rally,
convention,
knot,
flock,
get-together (informal),
congregation,
muster,
turnout,
multitude,
throng,
hui (New Zealand),
concourse,
assemblage,
conclave,
convocation (formal),
runanga (New Zealand)
in the sense of herd
Definition
a large group of people
large herds of elephant and buffalo
Synonyms
flock,
crowd,
collection,
mass,
drove,
crush,
mob,
swarm,
horde,
multitude,
throng,
assemblage,
press
in the sense of horde
Definition
a very large crowd, often frightening or unpleasant
A horde of people was screaming for tickets.
Synonyms
crowd,
mob,
swarm,
press,
host,
band,
troop,
pack,
crew (informal),
drove,
gang,
multitude,
throng
in the sense of march
Definition
(of an army, procession, etc.) to walk as an organized group
A Scottish battalion was marching down the street.
Synonyms
parade,
walk,
file,
pace,
stride,
tread,
tramp,
swagger,
footslog
in the sense of multitude
Definition
a large number of people or things
the multitudes that surround the Pope
Synonyms
crowd,
host,
mass,
mob,
congregation,
swarm,
sea,
horde,
throng,
great number
in the sense of pack
Definition
any collection of people or things
a pack of journalists who wanted to interview him
Synonyms
group,
crowd,
collection,
company,
set,
lot,
band,
troop,
crew (informal),
drove,
gang,
deck,
bunch (informal),
mob,
flock,
herd,
assemblage
in the sense of parade
Definition
to walk or march, esp. in a procession
More than four thousand people paraded down the Champs Elysées.
Synonyms
march,
process,
file,
promenade
in the sense of squad
Definition
any small group of people working together
The club is under investigation by the fraud squad.
Synonyms
team,
group,
band,
company,
force,
troop,
crew,
gang,
dream team
in the sense of swarm
Definition
a moving mass of people
A swarm of people encircled the hotel.
Synonyms
multitude,
crowd,
mass,
army,
host,
drove,
flock,
herd,
horde,
myriad,
throng,
shoal,
concourse,
bevy
in the sense of swarm
Definition
to move quickly and in large numbers
People swarmed to the shops, buying up everything in sight.
Synonyms
crowd,
flock,
throng,
mass,
stream,
congregate
Additional synonyms
in the sense of team
Definition
a group of people organized to work together
Mr Hunter and his management team
Synonyms
group,
company,
set,
body,
band,
crew (informal),
gang,
line-up,
bunch (informal),
dream team,
posse (informal)
in the sense of throng
Definition
a great number of people or things crowded together
An official pushed through the throng.
Synonyms
crowd,
mob,
horde,
press,
host,
pack,
mass,
crush,
jam,
congregation,
swarm,
multitude,
concourse,
assemblage
in the sense of throng
Definition
to gather in or fill (a place) in large numbers
the multitudes that throng around the Pope
Synonyms
crowd,
flock,
congregate,
troop,
bunch,
herd,
cram,
converge,
hem in,
mill around,
swarm around
in the sense of trail
Definition
to move wearily or slowly
I spent a long afternoon trailing behind him.
Synonyms
lag,
follow,
drift,
wander,
linger,
trudge,
fall behind,
plod,
meander,
amble,
loiter,
straggle,
traipse (informal),
dawdle,
hang back,
tag along (informal),
bring up the rear,
drag yourself
in the sense of traipse
Definition
to walk heavily or tiredly
I traipsed from one doctor to another.
Synonyms
trudge,
trail,
tramp,
slouch,
drag yourself,
footslog
in the sense of tramp
Definition
to walk heavily or firmly across or through (a place)
They put on their coats and tramped through the fallen snow.
Synonyms
trudge,
march,
stamp,
stump,
toil,
plod,
traipse (informal),
walk heavily
in the sense of trudge
Definition
to walk or plod heavily or wearily
We had to trudge up the track back to the station.
Synonyms
plod,
trek,
tramp,
traipse (informal),
march,
stump,
hike,
clump,
lumber,
slog,
drag yourself,
yomp,
walk heavily,
footslog
in the sense of unit
Definition
a team of people that performs a specific function, and often also their buildings and equipment