big crowds

USAGE SUMMARY

"big crowds" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it when you are referring to a large number of people located in one place. For example, "The band was performing to big crowds at the outdoor concert."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"There are big, big crowds.

Independent

Sure: big crowds!

The Guardian - Opinion

Neither of them was expecting big crowds.

Independent

Her rallies failed to draw big crowds.

The Economist

I like playing with big crowds.

The New York Times - Sports

I remember the big crowds, of course.

The New York Times

Big crowds have failed to appear.

Independent

Tate is expecting big crowds.

The Guardian - Arts

They're coming out in big crowds.

The Guardian

Big crowds turned out to hear him.

The Guardian - Books

Some U.S. teams attract really big crowds.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair the phrase with dynamic verbs like "attract", "draw", "gather" or "line the streets" to create more evocative sentences.

Common error

Writers sometimes mistakenly use "large big crowds" or "huge big crowds". Since both adjectives describe size, choose one strong modifier rather than stacking them, which can sound juvenile or repetitive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "big crowds" functions primarily as a noun phrase consisting of a descriptive adjective and a plural count noun. In sentences found on Ludwig, it often acts as the direct object of transitive verbs related to attraction (e.g., "draw", "attract", "expect").

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Sports & Entertainment

15%

Business & Retail

10%

Less common in

Academic Writing

5%

Scientific Research

2%

Legal Documents

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "big crowds" is an essential and highly effective tool in the English language for describing large gatherings. Analysis through Ludwig shows that it is a Very common expression, appearing extensively in high-quality journalism to describe everything from political rallies to sports events and retail launches. Ludwig AI confirms its status as Correct and highly usable. While simple, its strength lies in its versatility across different media. Writers seeking more variety might opt for "huge turnouts" or ""massive crowds"", but "big crowds" remains a reliable standard for clear and punchy communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

large audiences

specifically refers to people watching or listening to a performance or speech

massive crowds

intensifies the scale to suggest an overwhelming number of people

huge turnouts

focuses on the number of people who actually showed up for a specific event or vote

large numbers of people

a more literal and descriptive alternative suitable for objective reporting

vast gatherings

conveys a sense of space and a more formal or poetic tone

capacity crowds

implies a venue is completely full to its legal or physical limit

sizable throngs

uses more sophisticated vocabulary to describe a dense group of people

packed venues

shifts the focus from the people themselves to the location they are filling

dense swarms

adds a visual element suggesting people moving in close proximity, often used metaphorically

great multitudes

has a more literary or historical feel, emphasizing the sheer volume of individuals

FAQs

How to use "big crowds" in a sentence?

You can use it as the subject or object of a sentence. For example: "The music festival attracted "massive crowds" this year" or "The rally was expected to draw "big crowds" despite the rain".

What can I say instead of "big crowds"?

Depending on your context, you can use alternatives like "large audiences", "huge turnouts", or "capacity crowds".

Which is more formal, "big crowds" or "large crowds"?

While both are correct, "large crowds" is often perceived as slightly more formal and is more frequent in academic or official reporting, whereas "big crowds" is neutral and common in news media.

What does the phrase "drawing big crowds" mean?

It means to attract a high number of people to a specific place or event. It is often used for successful commercial ventures or popular celebrities, such as "The new exhibit is "drawing large numbers" of visitors".