1
a
: a great number of honeybees emigrating together from a hive in company with a queen to start a new colony elsewhere
b
: a colony of honeybees settled in a hive
2
a
: a large number of animate or inanimate things massed together and usually in motion : throng
swarms of sightseers
a swarm of locusts
a swarm of meteors
b
: a number of similar geologic features or phenomena close together in space or time
a swarm of dikes
an earthquake swarm
swarmed; swarming; swarms
1
: to form and depart from a hive in a swarm
2
a
: to move or assemble in a crowd : throng
b
: to hover about in the manner of a bee in a swarm
3
: to contain a swarm : teem
swarming with bugs
1
: to fill with a swarm
2
: to beset or surround in a swarm
players swarming the quarterback
swarmer
noun
Examples of swarm in a Sentence
Noun
a swarm of tourists descends upon the island every summer
Verb (1)
meeting little resistance, the pirates swarmed the decks of the merchant ship
at this time of year that Mexican resort swarms with college students on spring break
Verb (2)
one of the physical challenges had competitors swarming over a pile of logs
Recent Examples on the Web
Mark Harris, Vulture, 9 Apr. 2025
Once a new location has been identified, the swarm will move on to settle into their permanent colony.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 7 Apr. 2025
Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 15 Apr. 2025
No chance of recovery from catastrophic failure, experts say
The helicopter's landing gear could be seen emerging from the water as rescue crews swarmed the area afterward.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for swarm
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Noun
Especially in the spring, when young dancers at the peak of their health, promise, and physical strength swarm rehearsal studios for Broadway Bares.
—Mark Harris, Vulture, 9 Apr. 2025
Once a new location has been identified, the swarm will move on to settle into their permanent colony.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 7 Apr. 2025
Verb
In 1875, the speaking platform under President Ulysses S. Grant collapsed as drunken mobs of people swarmed the area.
—Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 15 Apr. 2025
No chance of recovery from catastrophic failure, experts say
The helicopter's landing gear could be seen emerging from the water as rescue crews swarmed the area afterward.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for swarm
Cite this Entry
“Swarm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/swarm. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
swarm
1 of 2 noun1
: a great number of honeybees leaving together from a hive with a queen to start a new colony elsewhere
also
: a colony of honeybees settled in a hive
2
: a large number grouped together and usually in motion
swarms of sightseers
a swarm of meteors
swarm
2 of 2 verb1
: to form and leave a hive in a swarm
2
: to move or gather in a swarm : throng
spectators swarmed into the stadium
3
: to contain or fill with a swarm
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