crowd
crowd
Pronunciation
/kraʊd/
kraʊ: The "cr" blend is represented by /kr/. The vowel sound is a diphthong, starting with an "a" sound as in "father" (/a/) and gliding towards an "oo" sound as in "food" (/ʊ/).
d: This is a simple voiced alveolar stop /d/.
Word Form Variations
Noun
Singular: crowd
Plural: crowds
Verb
Base Form: crowd
Present Participle: crowding
Past Tense: crowded
Past Participle: crowded
Third Person Singular Present: crowds
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition: A large number of people gathered closely together.
Synonyms: throng, multitude, horde, mass, swarm
Antonyms: few, handful, scattering, minority
Definition: A group of people with shared interests or characteristics.
Synonyms: circle, clique, set, gang, crew
Antonyms: individual, loner
Verb
Definition: To gather closely together in a large number.
Synonyms: congregate, pack, swarm, throng, cluster
Antonyms: disperse, scatter, separate, spread out
Definition: To fill a space or area to excess.
Synonyms: cram, pack, jam, squeeze
Antonyms: empty, vacate, clear
Definition: To press or push closely.
Synonyms: shove, jostle, crush
Antonyms: give space, avoid
It's worth noting that while "crowd" doesn't have a direct adjectival or adverbial form, related words like "crowded" (adjective) and "crowdedly" (adverb) exist to describe situations involving crowds.
Examples of Use
Books:
Fiction: "A vast crowd had assembled in the square, their faces a mixture of anticipation and dread as they awaited the king's announcement." (Any fantasy novel with a public gathering scene)
Non-Fiction: "The crowd surged forward, eager to catch a glimpse of the renowned scientist as she exited the lecture hall." (A biography of Marie Curie, for instance)
Newspapers:
"Thousands crowd Times Square for New Year's Eve celebration despite frigid temperatures." (The New York Times, December 31st, 2024)
"Crowds gather at Buckingham Palace to mourn the passing of Queen Elizabeth II." (The Guardian, September 9th, 2022)
Online Publications:
"Massive crowd attends Coachella music festival, highlighting the return of large-scale events post-pandemic." (Billboard.com, April 2023)
"Viral video shows crowd of penguins crowding around a lost emperor chick in Antarctica." (National Geographic website)
Entertainment:
Movies: "The crowd roared as the underdog team scored the winning goal in the final seconds of the championship game." (Any sports movie)
Music: "The crowd sang along to every word as the band performed their hit single." (Concert review, e.g., Rolling Stone)
Video Games: "The player had to navigate their character through a dense crowd in the bustling city center to complete the mission." (Grand Theft Auto V)
Public Discourse:
Politics: "The candidate addressed the crowd, promising to lower taxes and improve healthcare." (Any political rally)
Social Issues: "Crowds of protesters marched through the streets, demanding justice and equality." (Black Lives Matter protests)
Everyday Conversation: "Sorry I'm late, the train was really crowded this morning."
10 Famous Quotes Using Crowd
"Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect." — Mark Twain (often quoted in reference to following the crowd)
"Don’t be afraid to stand for what you believe in, even if that means standing alone in a crowd." — Andy Biersack
"The crowd is the gathering place of the weakest; true creation is a solitary act." — Charles Bukowski
"The voice of the crowd is not always the voice of reason." — William Shakespeare (paraphrased from Julius Caesar)
"In a crowd, the voice of truth is easily drowned by the noise of approval." — Malcolm X
"The one who follows the crowd will usually go no further than the crowd." — Albert Einstein (attributed)
"Crowds can’t think. The crowd is not wise. The crowd is impulsive and emotional." — Gustave Le Bon (from The Crowd: A Study of the Popular Mind)
"A hero stands alone in the crowd not by intention, but by conviction." — Winston Churchill
"To stand out from the crowd, you must be comfortable standing apart from it." — Robin Sharma
"The man who wants to lead the orchestra must turn his back on the crowd." — James Crook
Etymology
The word "crowd" has a bit of a split personality, with two separate origins!
Origin 1: To Push and Shove
This version of "crowd" comes from an Old English word, "crūdan," which meant "to press" or "to hasten." Imagine a bunch of people pushing and shoving - that's the original idea behind this meaning. Over time, it evolved to describe the group of people doing the pushing, rather than just the action itself. This meaning of "crowd" appeared before the 12th century.
Origin 2: A Musical Instrument
Believe it or not, "crowd" also used to refer to a type of ancient Celtic stringed instrument! This meaning came from the Welsh word "crwth" (pronounced something like "krooth"). It was a bit like a violin. This meaning popped up in the 14th century, but it's much less common today.
So, how did we get from pushing and shoving to a group of people?
Well, when lots of people push together, they form a... crowd! The action and the result became linked. This is how language changes over time - words take on new meanings based on how we use them.
In a nutshell:
"Crowd" originally meant to push or shove, coming from the Old English "crūdan."
It also meant a Celtic musical instrument, from the Welsh "crwth."
The most common meaning today - a group of people - came from the idea of people pushing together.
Isn't it fascinating how words can have such diverse histories?
Phrases + Idioms Containing Crowd
Commonly Used:
Follow the crowd: To conform to popular opinion or behavior, often without critical thinking.
Stand out from the crowd: To be unique or different from the majority.
Draw a crowd: To attract a large number of people.
Crowd-pleaser: Something or someone that is popular with the majority.
Two's company, three's a crowd: An idiom suggesting that a third person can be unwelcome in an intimate situation.
Lesser-Known:
Lost in the crowd: To be inconspicuous or unnoticed within a large group.
Crowd mentality: The tendency for individuals in a crowd to adopt behaviors or beliefs they wouldn't normally exhibit alone.
Crowd surfing: Being passed overhead by the hands of a crowd at a concert.
Original:
Crowd wisdom: The idea that collective knowledge or opinions can be more accurate than individual ones.
Crowd-sourced solution: A problem solved by contributions from a large group of people.
A crowd of thoughts: Having many thoughts or ideas occurring at once.
Idioms with Synonyms:
Go with the flow: (Similar to "follow the crowd") To conform to the prevailing trend or opinion.
March to the beat of your own drum: (Similar to "stand out from the crowd") To be independent and nonconformist.
Pack them in: (Similar to "draw a crowd") To attract a large audience.
A wolf in sheep's clothing: (Plays on the idea of "crowd" as a group with shared traits) Someone who appears harmless but is actually dangerous.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of crowd from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
