swarm
gb/swˈɔɹm/ us/swˈɔɹm/
B1
English
~ 8500
raj, tömeg, özönlik, tódul, rajzik, ellep
NOUN
B1
1
raj
B1
Usage pattern:
a swarm of [insects]
A dark swarm of bees rose from the hive and filled the sky.
Egy sötét méhraj emelkedett fel a kaptárból, és betöltötte az eget.
Mosquitoes formed a thick swarm above the swamp at sunset.
Naplementekor sűrű szúnyograj alakult ki a mocsár fölött.
The farmer watched a swarm of locusts move across his field.
We had to run inside to escape the swarm of wasps.
A swarm of midges hovered over the lake all evening.
Learner examples
A swarm of bees flew over the trees.
Egy méhraj repült át a fák fölött.
There was a big swarm of flies near the trash.
Nagy légyraj volt a szemét közelében.
We saw a swarm of insects around the light.
A swarm of mosquitoes bit my arms and legs.
They ran away from the swarm of wasps.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *"many bees"* when they want to emphasize a single, moving group and could instead use *"a swarm of bees"*. Also, they may forget the article and say *"swarm of bees"* instead of *"a swarm of bees"*.
Meaning
large moving group of insects
Collocations
a swarm of bees
|a swarm of insects
|a locust swarm
|huge swarm
|angry swarm
|bee swarm
Synonyms
cloud (Often used for a large mass of insects in the air, focuses more on the visual appearance than on the group itself.)
|
horde (Can describe a large group of insects or animals but more often refers to people and can sound more negative or threatening.)
Antonyms
individual (Refers to a single insect, the opposite of many insects grouped together.)
Themes
nature
|animals
|environment
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A big group of flying insects, like bees, that move together in the air.
A large number of flying insects of the same species, moving together in a dense group.
NOUN
B2
2
tömeg
A2
Usage pattern:
a swarm of [people/animals]
A swarm of tourists poured off the buses and into the square.
Turisták tömege özönlött le a buszokról a térre.
The singer was met by a swarm of fans at the airport.
Az énekest rajongók tömege fogadta a repülőtéren.
A noisy swarm of schoolchildren burst out of the classroom.
Swarms of shoppers filled the mall on Black Friday.
The players were surrounded by a swarm of reporters after the game.
Learner examples
A swarm of tourists walked down the narrow street.
Turisták tömege haladt végig a szűk utcán.
A swarm of fans waited outside the stadium.
Rajongók tömege várakozott a stadion előtt.
There was a swarm of children in the park after school.
Swarms of people stood in line to buy tickets.
A swarm of reporters followed the famous actor.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think *swarm* is only used for insects. In modern English it is also common, especially in writing, to talk about *a swarm of tourists* or *a swarm of reporters* to show that there are many and they move quickly. Avoid using it for small, calm groups, where *group* or *crowd* is better.
Meaning
large moving crowd of people
Collocations
a swarm of tourists
|a swarm of reporters
|swarms of fans
|a swarm of children
|swarms of shoppers
|a swarm of protesters
Synonyms
crowd (The most general word for many people together; *swarm* suggests more movement and a feeling of being surrounded.)
|
mob (Suggests an angry or dangerous crowd; *swarm* can be neutral or just busy.)
Antonyms
trickle (Refers to a very small, slow flow of people, the opposite of a large, busy group arriving together.)
Themes
society
|daily_life
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A big, busy group of people or animals moving together in one place.
A large number of people or animals moving together in a busy, often chaotic group.
VERB
B2
3
Usage pattern:
[people/animals] swarm into/over/around [a place/person]
Fans swarmed into the stadium as soon as the gates opened.
A szurkolók beözönlöttek a stadionba, amint kinyíltak a kapuk.
Reporters swarmed around the politician outside the courthouse.
Újságírók özönlöttek a politikus köré a bíróság épülete előtt.
Shoppers swarmed over the sale tables looking for bargains.
Children swarmed around the ice-cream truck after school.
Protesters swarmed into the main square and blocked traffic.
Learner examples
People swarmed into the store when it opened.
Az emberek beözönlöttek az üzletbe, amikor kinyitott.
Children swarmed around the clown at the party.
A gyerekek a bohóc köré özönlöttek a partin.
Fans swarmed around the singer after the show.
Tourists swarmed into the small town in summer.
Shoppers swarmed over the cheap clothes on the table.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *"swarm to"* when they mean entering a place, but *"swarm into"* is more natural for going inside (e.g. *People swarmed into the hall*). Use *swarm around* when the group gathers closely around someone or something.
Meaning
people or animals move in numbers
Collocations
swarm into the streets
|swarm around the stage
|swarm into the stadium
|swarm over the field
|fans swarmed the stage
|shoppers swarmed into the mall
Synonyms
crowd (As a verb it also means to move in large numbers into a place; *swarm* often suggests faster, less controlled movement.)
|
pour (Common in phrases like *people poured into the streets*; *swarm* adds a sense of busy movement in all directions.)
Antonyms
disperse (Means for people to move apart and leave a place, the opposite of coming together in large numbers.)
Themes
society
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To go into or around a place in a big group so the place becomes very full.
To move in large numbers into, over, or around a place, making it very crowded and busy.
VERB
B2
4
rajzik
B2
Usage pattern:
[insects] swarm (around/over [something])
Bees swarmed around the fallen tree where their old hive had been.
Méhek rajzottak a kidőlt fa körül, ahol korábban a régi kaptáruk volt.
Mosquitoes swarmed over the pond as evening fell.
Estefelé szúnyogok rajzottak a tó fölött.
Flies swarmed around the open trash can.
A cloud of mayflies swarmed above the river.
Locusts swarmed across the fields, eating everything in their path.
Learner examples
Bees swarmed around the broken hive.
Méhek rajzottak a törött kaptár körül.
Flies swarmed around the food on the table.
Legyek rajzottak az asztalon lévő étel körül.
Mosquitoes swarmed over the water at night.
Small insects swarmed above the lamp.
Wasps swarmed around the picnic area.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse the noun and verb forms and say *"the bees made a swarm"* instead of *"the bees swarmed"* or *"there was a swarm of bees"*. Remember: *swarm* can be both a noun and a verb.
Meaning
insects fly together in group
Collocations
bees swarmed
|flies swarmed around
|mosquitoes swarmed over
|wasps swarmed around
|locusts swarmed across
|gnats swarmed above
Synonyms
cluster (Can describe insects gathering closely together, though it does not always imply active flying like *swarm*.)
Antonyms
scatter (Describes insects moving apart from each other, the opposite of coming together in a dense group.)
Themes
nature
|animals
|environment
|core_vocabulary
Definition
When many insects, like bees, fly together in a big group in the air or onto something.
Of flying insects, especially bees, to move together through the air or onto an object in a large, dense group.
VERB
C1
5
ellep
B2
Usage pattern:
[people/animals/insects] swarm [someone/something]; [someone/something] is swarmed by/with [people/animals/insects]
Fans swarmed the stage as soon as the band finished playing.
A rajongók ellepték a színpadot, amint a zenekar befejezte a műsorát.
The garden was swarmed with bees after the flowers opened.
Miután kinyíltak a virágok, a kertet ellepték a méhek.
The celebrity was swarmed by photographers outside the hotel.
By noon, the beach was swarmed with holidaymakers.
Within minutes, security guards swarmed him and led him away.
Learner examples
The player was swarmed by reporters after the game.
A meccs után újságírók lepték el a játékost.
Tourists swarmed the small café every morning.
A turisták minden reggel ellepték a kis kávézót.
The room was swarmed with mosquitoes at night.
Fans swarmed him when he walked out of the car.
The square was swarmed with people during the festival.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *"full of"* when they want to describe active movement from all sides. In phrases like *"The singer was swarmed by fans"*, *swarmed* shows that the people quickly moved in and surrounded the person, not just that there were many people nearby.
Meaning
surround or cover in large numbers
Collocations
swarm the stage
|swarm the beach
|swarmed by reporters
|swarmed with tourists
|swarmed with mosquitoes
|security guards swarmed him
Synonyms
mob (As a verb, it emphasizes a crowd surrounding someone aggressively; *swarm* can be less hostile and more about numbers.)
|
overrun (Focuses on a place being filled or taken over; *swarm* highlights the moving crowd doing it.)
Antonyms
leave alone (Means not to approach or crowd around someone, the opposite of surrounding them in large numbers.)
Themes
society
|daily_life
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To go around someone or something in a very big group, so that person or place is almost covered.
To surround, cover, or fill someone or something in large numbers, often so that the person or place feels crowded or overwhelmed.
Grammar
Dictionary form
swarm
IPA
GB/swˈɔɹm/
US/swˈɔɹm/
Syllables & stress
swarm (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (swarm)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: swarm
- Plural: swarms
Verb
- Base: swarm
- 3rd Person Singular: swarms
- Present Participle: swarming
- Past: swarmed
Word family
Forms
swarms
noun
swarming
verb
swarmed
verb
Expressions
a swarm of
1/ə swˈɔɹm əv/
fixed phrase
one large dense moving group
Used before a noun to mean one big, dense group of insects, animals, or people moving together.
Examples
- A swarm of bees flew over the field.
- There was a swarm of tourists outside the museum.
- We were followed by a swarm of reporters after the meeting.
swarm around
1/swˈɔɹm ɚˈaʊnd/
phrasal verb
gather and move closely around
To come close and move around someone or something in a big group.
Examples
- Reporters swarmed around the actress as she left the theater.
- Bees swarmed around the tree where the hive had fallen.
- Children swarmed around the magician to see the trick.
swarm into
1/swˈɔɹm ˈɪntu/
phrasal verb
enter a place in large numbers
To go into a place quickly in a big group so that the place becomes very full.
Examples
- As soon as the doors opened, people swarmed into the store.
- Fans swarmed into the stadium to see the final.
- When the rain stopped, children swarmed into the playground.
swarm over
1/swˈɔɹm ˈoʊvɚ/
phrasal verb
move across and cover something
To move across something in large numbers so that you almost cover it.
Examples
- Ants swarmed over the dropped piece of cake.
- Shoppers swarmed over the discount tables at the back of the store.
- Children swarmed over the new playground equipment.
swarm with
1/swˈɔɹm wˈɪθ/
phrasal verb
place filled with moving creatures
If a place swarms with people, animals, or insects, it is very full of them and they are moving around actively.
Examples
- In summer, the garden swarms with bees and butterflies.
- The streets swarmed with protesters after the announcement.
- The beach was swarming with families enjoying the sun.
swarms of
1/swˈɔɹmz əv/
fixed phrase
very many large moving groups
Used before a plural noun to mean very many people, animals, or insects, often so many that it feels like too much.
Examples
- There were swarms of mosquitoes near the lake.
- Swarms of fans waited outside the concert hall.
- In summer the town is filled with swarms of tourists.