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
Synonyms
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
Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 4 Nov. 2024
Getting things in shipshape The story begins with Mario and Luigi going about their day, when Luigi provokes a swarm of bees.
—Josh Broadwell, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2024
Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 10 Nov. 2024
Phoenix Zoo wildlife reveal varied reactions The birds and the trees
To help tell the story of the hottest summer on record, Republic reporters swarmed the city for one week, returning with stories about how people survived and adapted.
—Shaun McKinnon, The Arizona Republic, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for swarm 
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Noun
The next swarm is expected to occur in November 2025, Cooke said.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 4 Nov. 2024
Getting things in shipshape The story begins with Mario and Luigi going about their day, when Luigi provokes a swarm of bees.
—Josh Broadwell, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2024
Verb
Nobody could keep him from getting to his spots, not Braun and not the supporting cast Denver tried to swarm Irving with.
—Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 10 Nov. 2024
Phoenix Zoo wildlife reveal varied reactions The birds and the trees
To help tell the story of the hottest summer on record, Republic reporters swarmed the city for one week, returning with stories about how people survived and adapted.
—Shaun McKinnon, The Arizona Republic, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for swarm
Articles Related to swarm
Dictionary Entries Near swarm
Cite this Entry
“Swarm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/swarm. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
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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