crowd around

USAGE SUMMARY

"crowd around" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a group of people gathering closely in a circle around something or someone in order to look at, listen to, or talk to them. For example, "A crowd of curious onlookers crowded around the scene of the accident."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

If they crowd around and ask to see your purse, yell for the guide".

The New Yorker

They may crowd around and trap you in their excitement.[15].

WikiHow

Ragged children crowd around.

The Economist

Dealers crowd around the cars they want.

The New Yorker

The crowd around the men clapped.

The New York Times

There was a crowd around her, too.

The New Yorker

Laughter erupted from the crowd around her.

The Economist

There's a crowd around him.

The Guardian

With the crowd around her chanting "Diaz!

The New York Times - Sports

"There was always a crowd around Jim," Mr. Murphy recalled.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

It's also clear that you'd like to build a community/crowd around this.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "crowd around" to vividly describe a group of people gathering closely to observe or interact with something. It's particularly effective when conveying a sense of excitement, curiosity, or urgency.

Common error

Avoid using incorrect prepositions such as "crowd at" or "crowd in". The correct preposition is "around" to indicate the surrounding nature of the gathering. Use "crowd around" to accurately describe the action of people gathering closely.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "crowd around" functions primarily as a phrasal verb, indicating the action of a group of individuals gathering closely around a central point or subject. Ludwig examples show its versatile use in describing both literal physical gatherings and more figurative scenarios.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

17%

Science

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Academia

8%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "crowd around" is a versatile and commonly used phrasal verb that describes the action of people gathering closely, often out of curiosity or interest. According to Ludwig AI analysis, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely applicable across various contexts. While generally neutral in tone, it's important to consider the specific context and audience when choosing between "crowd around" and more formal alternatives such as "congregate around". Remember to use the correct preposition "around" and use it to vividly describe scenarios where people gather to focus on something together. Its frequency in news media and general writing makes it a reliable and effective choice for describing such gatherings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cluster around

Emphasizes the closeness and proximity of the individuals in the group.

gather around

Focuses more on the act of coming together, suggesting a deliberate action to assemble.

gather together

Similar to "gather around" but can imply a more organized or formal assembly.

collect around

Highlights the process of individuals gradually forming a group.

flock to

Implies a large number of people moving quickly and eagerly towards something.

congregate around

Suggests a more formal or planned gathering.

throng around

Suggests a densely packed crowd surrounding something.

swarm around

Implies a dense and potentially chaotic gathering, often used for insects or a disorganized group.

ring around

Implies forming a circle around something or someone.

converge on

Indicates movement from different directions towards a central point.

FAQs

How can I use "crowd around" in a sentence?

Use "crowd around" to describe a group of people gathering closely around something. For example, "The children "crowd around" the storyteller, eager to hear the tale".

What's the difference between "gather around" and "crowd around"?

"Gather around" suggests a more organized or intentional assembly, while "crowd around" implies a more spontaneous and potentially less orderly gathering.

What can I say instead of "crowd around" to describe people moving eagerly?

You can use alternatives like "flock to" or "swarm around" to convey the sense of eager movement towards something.

Is it appropriate to use "crowd around" in formal writing?

While "crowd around" is acceptable, in formal writing, consider using alternatives like "congregate around" for a more professional tone.