swarm

1.nounB1

Definition

many insects, such as bees, wasps, or ants, flying or moving together as one mass

Example

A swarm of bees flew out of the old tree and straight into the garden.

a swarm of + insect type

The hikers ran when they saw a swarm of wasps coming toward them.

Common collocations

bee swarm
wasp swarm
swarm of insects
thick swarm
enormous swarm

Synonyms

cluster
smaller and less organised than a swarm; suggests things grouped close together
cloud
used specifically for flying insects seen from a distance, emphasising the shape in the air
mass
more neutral term emphasising size rather than movement

Grammar Patterns

a swarm of [insects]

2.nounB1

Definition

many people making their way together in a busy, hurried, or excited fashion

Example

A swarm of excited fans rushed toward the stage as soon as the concert ended.

a swarm of + people type

Swarms of eager shoppers filled the main streets during the New Year sales.

Common collocations

swarm of fans
swarm of shoppers
swarm of tourists
swarm of journalists
swarm of people

Synonyms

crowd
neutral term for a group of people; does not suggest the same sense of busy movement as swarm
throng
suggests a densely packed crowd pushing forward; more formal than swarm
mob
has a negative meaning of an angry or disorderly crowd, unlike the neutral swarm

Antonyms

trickle
a small, slow movement of people, the opposite of a large surge

Grammar Patterns

a swarm of [people]

3.nounB2

Definition

a number of drones (= small pilotless aircraft controlled from the ground) moving together to perform a task

Example

A swarm of drones lit up the night sky during the festival's opening ceremony.

a swarm of drones

The rescue team used a swarm of small drones to search the mountain area.

Common collocations

drone swarm
swarm of drones
deploy a swarm
swarm technology
swarm intelligence

Synonyms

fleet
suggests a more organised, military or commercial group; less chaotic than swarm
squadron
military term for an organised unit; more formal and structured

Grammar Patterns

a swarm of [drones]

Usage Note

Often used in military, commercial, or entertainment contexts for coordinated groups of drones.

1.verbintransitiveB1

Definition

of insects such as bees or ants, to move together in very large numbers as one mass

Example

The bees swarmed around the hive after the young queen escaped from it.

intransitive: swarm around + location

Every spring the ants swarm across the garden path searching for food.

Common collocations

bees swarm
ants swarm
locusts swarm
swarm around
swarm across

Synonyms

gather
neutral and less dramatic; does not include the idea of mass movement
cluster
suggests staying close in one spot rather than moving as a group
flock
used for birds and sometimes people, not usually for insects

Antonyms

scatter
to separate and move in different directions, the opposite of gathering in a swarm

Grammar Patterns

swarm [preposition] [location]

swarm to [new location]

Usage Note

This sense is specifically about insects. When used of people, the verb has a different meaning (see verb/2).

Common Mistakes

The bees swarmed together in the tree.

The bees swarmed in the tree.

'swarm' already implies togetherness, so 'together' is redundant.

2.verbintransitiveB1

Definition

of people, to move somewhere quickly in large numbers, often because of excitement or urgency

Example

As soon as the gates opened, the excited crowd swarmed into the football stadium.

swarm + into (direction)

Children swarmed around the ice-cream truck when it arrived in the park.

Common collocations

swarm into
swarm around
swarm onto
swarm toward
crowd swarm
fans swarm

Synonyms

flock
implies a more organised or purposeful movement; less chaotic than swarm
surge
emphasises the strong forward push of the crowd
crowd
can also be a verb meaning to fill a space, but does not suggest movement toward a goal

Antonyms

disperse
to break up and go in different directions

Grammar Patterns

swarm + adverb/preposition (into, around, onto, toward)

Usage Note

Unlike the noun form, the verb emphasises urgent or excited movement. The direction of movement is always stated through an adverb or prepositional phrase.

Common Mistakes

The fans swarmed to get a photo.' (missing a location)

The fans swarmed around the actor to get a photo.

the verb needs a location or direction.

3.verbintransitiveB1

Definition

to be full of moving people, insects, or other things — for example, a market swarming with shoppers, or a kitchen swarming with ants

Example

The old market was swarming with shoppers looking for fresh fish and vegetables.

be swarming with [people]

In summer the lake shore swarms with mosquitoes and other tiny insects.

Common collocations

swarm with
be swarming with
swarm with people
swarm with tourists
swarm with insects
swarm with fans

Synonyms

teem
more formal and literary; means the same but is less common in everyday speech
crawl
used when the movement is slower and more scattered, as in 'crawl with ants'
bustle
used for busy human activity; has a more positive, lively feel

Antonyms

empty
to become empty; the opposite of being full of moving things

Grammar Patterns

swarm with [people/insects/things]

be swarming with [something]

Usage Note

Almost always followed by the preposition 'with'. The continuous form ('was swarming with', 'is swarming with') is the most common pattern. A location must come before the verb as the subject — you cannot say 'people swarm with the market'; the market swarms with people.

Common Mistakes

The beach swarmed of tourists in July.

The beach swarmed with tourists in July.

'swarm' takes 'with', not 'of'.

People swarmed with the street on New Year's Eve.

The street swarmed with people on New Year's Eve.

the location is the subject, not the people.

Word family

swarming
adjectiveB2
swarmed
adjectiveB2
swarming
nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

All four words describe a large number of people in one place, but each carries a different feel. 'Crowd' is the most neutral and general — it simply means many people together, with no judgement about their mood or movement. 'Throng' suggests a densely packed group pushing forward; it is more formal than 'crowd' and emphasises tightness and motion. 'Mob' has a negative connotation of a disorderly, emotional, or violent group. 'Swarm' compares people to insects: it highlights busy, chaotic movement in large numbers, often with a sense of excitement. You might see a calm crowd outside a theatre, a throng of commuters at rush hour, or a mob breaking shop windows — but only a swarm of fans rushing toward a stage captures the overwhelming, insect-like surge that the other words lack.

crowd ↗throngmob ↗swarm ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

bees
people
drones
fans
tourists
shoppers
ants
mosquitoes
wasps
locusts
journalists

Adverbs

Phrases

a swarm of
swarm with
swarm into
be swarming with

Prepositions

Etymology

Proto-GermanicOld EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word comes from Old English 'swearm', which meant a group of bees. It shares roots with Dutch 'zwerm' and German 'Schwarm', all pointing back to a Proto-Germanic word for a buzzing, moving mass. The meaning stayed close to bees for centuries. Later, people began using it for crowds of people and, in modern times, for groups of drones. The verb form grew naturally from the noun — first describing how bees move, then expanding to any lively, crowded movement.

Entries near

Previous entries

Next entries

swarm

swarm — noun

1. many insects, such as bees, wasps, or ants, flying or moving together as one mas

Grammar Patterns

2. many people making their way together in a busy, hurried, or excited fashion

Grammar Patterns

3. a number of drones (= small pilotless aircraft controlled from the ground) movin

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

swarm — verb

1. of insects such as bees or ants, to move together in very large numbers as one m

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

2. of people, to move somewhere quickly in large numbers, often because of exciteme

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

3. to be full of moving people, insects, or other things — for example, a market sw

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

Word family

Synonym discussion

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

Prepositions

Etymology

Entries near

Entries near