swarm

A large group of insects, especially bees, moving together.

• A swarm of bees flew past.
• The beekeeper moved the swarm into a new hive.
• Swarms of insects rose from the grass.

How to use it: a swarm of insects (A swarm of flies gathered around the bins.)

Common phrases: swarm of bees, swarm of insects, bee swarm

A large crowd of people, animals, or things moving about together, often without order.

• A swarm of children ran outside.
• She pushed through the swarm of shoppers.
• Swarms of tourists crowded the narrow streets.

How to use it: a swarm of someone/something (A swarm of reporters followed the actor.)

Similar words: crowd, horde, throng

Common phrases: swarm of people, swarm of reporters, swarm of tourists

A large number of similar things grouped together.

• A swarm of stars filled the image.
• The planet is surrounded by a swarm of small moons.
• Engineers tested several swarms of tiny robots.

How to use it: a swarm of something (The telescope revealed a swarm of distant stars.)

Similar words: cluster, collection, group

Common phrases: swarm of stars, swarm of satellites, swarm of drones

A large group of fish or birds together.

• A swarm of fish passed beneath us.
• Swarms of birds filled the evening sky.
• The shark approached a dense swarm of sardines.

How to use it: a swarm of fish/birds (A swarm of birds circled above the fishing boat.)

Similar words: school, shoal, flock

Common phrases: swarm of fish, swarm of birds, swarm of sardines

To move together in large numbers.

• Bees swarm around the flowers.
• Children swarmed into the playground.
• Fans were swarming towards the stage.

How to use it: swarm around someone/something (Fans swarmed around the singer.); swarm into something (Shoppers swarmed into the store when it opened.)

Similar words: crowd, throng, flock

Opposites: disperse

Common phrases: swarm around someone, swarm into something, swarm over something

To be present in such large numbers that a place seems full.

• Flies swarm in the kitchen.
• The garden was swarming with mosquitoes.
• Ants swarmed over the spilled sugar.

How to use it: swarm with something (The kitchen was swarming with ants.)

Similar words: teem, abound

Common phrases: swarm with insects, swarm in something, swarm over food, swarm the kitchen

To defeat or overpower someone by attacking with a large number of people or creatures.

• The soldiers swarmed the enemy.
• Small fighters swarmed the larger ship.
• The defenders were swarmed by hundreds of attackers.

How to use it: swarm someone/something (The attackers swarmed the defenders before they could retreat.)

Similar words: overwhelm, overrun

Common phrases: swarm the enemy, swarm an opponent, swarm enemy positions