What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
swarm
Example
The bees swarmed around the hive. [swarmed: past tense]
Example
The city was swarming with tourists during the holiday season. [swarming: present participle]
throng
Example
The throng of protesters marched through the streets. [throng: noun]
Example
We thronged into the concert hall to see our favorite band. [thronged: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Throng is less commonly used than swarm in everyday language. Swarm is more versatile and covers a wider range of contexts, while throng is more specific to describing crowds of people.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between swarm and throng?
Both swarm and throng are relatively informal words, but throng may be slightly more formal due to its association with literary or historical contexts.
