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
Aaron Davis, Sacbee.com, 1 May 2026
According to budget details, SOCOM is seeking to purchase 93 group 2 UAVs, 10 group 3 UAVs, 16 swarm carrier pods, and five ground system interfaces.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 1 May 2026
Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 1 May 2026
During a short struggle, two officers restrained Woods by throwing her to the ground as bees swarmed the property.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for swarm
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Noun
Costumes aren’t necessarily mandatory for the performers at the Sac Halloween Show, but a heavy dose of creativity is required for this swarm of sonic cosplay.
—Aaron Davis, Sacbee.com, 1 May 2026
According to budget details, SOCOM is seeking to purchase 93 group 2 UAVs, 10 group 3 UAVs, 16 swarm carrier pods, and five ground system interfaces.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 1 May 2026
Verb
Villa can be vulnerable to cheap giveaways in midfield, so Emery moved Morgan Rogers alongside Watkins up front and in the inside-right channel, higher upfield and not in central or deep positions where he can be swarmed.
—Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 1 May 2026
During a short struggle, two officers restrained Woods by throwing her to the ground as bees swarmed the property.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for swarm
Cite this Entry
“Swarm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/swarm. Accessed 5 May. 2026.
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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