a crowd gathered

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a crowd gathered" is a perfectly acceptable sentence in written English.
You can use it when describing a large group of people in a particular place. For example, "A crowd gathered outside the courthouse to witness the verdict."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A crowd gathered nearby.

The New Yorker

Soon a crowd gathered around them.

The New Yorker

A crowd gathered and started singing.

The New York Times

A crowd gathered around him.

The New York Times

A crowd gathered well before dawn.

The Washington Post

A crowd gathered there earlier this afternoon.

The Guardian

"Quite a crowd gathered," Boyarsky said.

The New York Times - Magazine

A crowd gathered around the bar and the buzz grew.

The New York Times

A crowd gathered around a man shot in the back.

The New York Times

As the standoff went on, a crowd gathered.

The New York Times

A crowd gathered, and people started swearing at the police.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a crowd gathered" when you want to describe a spontaneous gathering of people in response to an event or situation. It's suitable for news reports, storytelling, and general descriptions.

Common error

Avoid using "a crowd gathered" if the gathering was pre-planned or organized. Use phrases like "an audience assembled" or "a meeting convened" instead to accurately reflect the nature of the gathering.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a crowd gathered" functions as an independent clause, primarily acting as a statement of fact. It describes a situation where a group of people has come together in a specific location. Ludwig AI confirms this through numerous examples demonstrating its straightforward descriptive role.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

95%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Less common in

Science

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a crowd gathered" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase to describe the spontaneous assembly of people. As indicated by Ludwig, it's most frequently found in news and media contexts, serving to set the scene or provide context. While neutral in register, it's important to use it when the gathering isn't pre-planned. Consider alternatives like "people assembled" or "a group congregated" for more formal or deliberate gatherings. Ludwig's analysis and the wealth of examples underscore its reliability and versatility in descriptive writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

People assembled

This alternative focuses on the action of people coming together in a more formal tone.

A group congregated

Congregated suggests a more deliberate or planned gathering.

Spectators convened

Convened implies a formal meeting or assembly of spectators.

Onlookers accumulated

Accumulated emphasizes the gradual increase in the number of people present.

A throng amassed

Amassed suggests a large and densely packed crowd.

Attendees flocked

Flocked implies a large number of people moving quickly and gathering together.

Participants rallied

Rallied indicates a gathering with a specific purpose or cause.

A multitude appeared

Appeared simply states that a large number of people became visible.

Gathering of individuals

This option is a more descriptive and less concise way of saying the same thing.

Individuals converged

Converged emphasizes the movement of individuals towards a central point.

FAQs

What does "a crowd gathered" mean?

The phrase "a crowd gathered" means that a group of people came together in a particular place, often spontaneously or in response to something happening.

What can I say instead of "a crowd gathered"?

You can use alternatives like "people assembled", "a group congregated", or "onlookers accumulated" depending on the context.

Is "a crowd gathered" formal or informal?

"A crowd gathered" is generally neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though it's more commonly found in news reports and descriptive writing, suitable to the register.

How to use "a crowd gathered" in a sentence?

You can use "a crowd gathered" to describe a spontaneous gathering. For example, "A crowd gathered around the street performer" or "A crowd gathered after the accident".