gang
gb/ɡˈæŋ/ us/ɡˈæŋ/
A2
English
~ 4300
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
Group of criminals
A group of people who do crimes together.
Usage pattern:
a gang of [people]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'gang' with 'group' in all contexts, but 'gang' usually has a negative or criminal meaning.
Synonyms
mob (Often used for large, organized criminal groups, especially in the context of organized crime.)
Antonyms
police (Law enforcement group that works against gangs.)
Collocations
street gang
|gang violence
|gang member
|rival gang
|gang leader
Themes
crime
|society
|law
Examples
- The police arrested several members of the street gang.
- Gang violence has been increasing in the city.
- He joined a gang when he was a teenager.
- The rival gang controls the other side of town.
Learner examples
- The gang robbed a bank.
- A gang fights with another gang.
- The police stopped the gang.
Noun
informal
A2
entity
2
Group of friends
A group of friends who like to be together.
Usage pattern:
the gang [verb] together
Common mistake:
Some learners may overuse 'gang' for any group, but in this sense it is casual and friendly.
Synonyms
crew (Informal term for a close group of friends; may sound trendier or more youthful.)
Antonyms
stranger (Someone outside the group of friends.)
Collocations
meet the gang
|hang out with the gang
|the old gang
Themes
friendship
|social life
|relationships
|daily_life
Examples
- I’m meeting up with the old gang this weekend.
- The gang always goes to that café on Fridays.
- Let's invite the whole gang to the party.
Learner examples
- I play soccer with my gang.
- The gang meets every week.
- I like my gang.
Noun
B2
entity
3
Group of workers or team
A group of people working together on a job.
Usage pattern:
a gang of [workers]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with the criminal meaning; context usually clarifies it.
Synonyms
team (Neutral term for a group working together; lacks the informal or criminal connotations of 'gang'.)
Antonyms
individual worker (A single person working alone, not in a team.)
Collocations
construction gang
|railway gang
|work gang
Themes
work
|labor
Examples
- A gang of builders is working on the new road.
- The railway gang repaired the tracks overnight.
- He joined a maintenance gang at the factory.
Learner examples
- A gang builds the road.
- The gang works in the factory.
- I see a gang fixing the bridge.
Grammar
Dictionary form
gang
IPA
GB/ɡˈæŋ/
US/ɡˈæŋ/
Syllables & stress
gang (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (gang)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: gang
- Plural: gangs
Word family
Expressions
a one-man gang
1/ə wˈʌn mˈæn ɡˈæŋ/
idiom
informal
One person doing group's work
One person who does as much work as many people would do together.
Examples
- He fixed the car, painted the house, and cooked dinner—he’s a one-man gang.
- With her energy, she’s like a one-man gang at the office.
gang together
1/ɡˈæŋ təɡˈɛðɚ/
phrasal verb
Form group for goal
To join with others to do something together.
Examples
- Local businesses ganged together to protest the new tax.
- They ganged together to help their neighbor.
gang up on
1/ɡˈæŋ ˈʌp ˈɔn/
phrasal verb
informal
Join to attack one person
To join with others to attack or be unkind to one person.
Examples
- The other kids ganged up on him in the playground.
- They all ganged up on me during the meeting.