mobbed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "mobbed" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe a situation where a person is surrounded or overwhelmed by a large group of people, often in a chaotic or enthusiastic manner. Example: "The celebrity was mobbed by fans as she exited the venue." Alternative expressions include "crowded" and "swarmed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

So it won't just be 700 people fighting over seven paintings, but inevitably those seven superstars are going to be mobbed.

The Guardian - Arts

It was picked up by the Sun in England and appears in the later editions in a short piece on page 2. By contrast, the Scottish Sun splashes on a story headlined "Stur crazy", reporting that Sturgeon was mobbed by adoring crowds in Edinburgh after being "top of the box".

The Guardian

"Good job last night, Nicola," shouted one man as supporters mobbed the first minister, their hands holding mobile phones aloft for that closeup moment; a woman near by yelled out: "You were wonderful".

The Guardian

"The welcome was overwhelming and we got mobbed a little bit but it was nice and we're delighted to be here".

The Guardian - Sport

The flamboyant politician – since relocated to the less visible post of supervising political negotiations – was mobbed by sympathisers at a May Day march with many cheering his vocal anti-austerity views.

The Guardian

The Russians adored him, mobbed him, showered him with flowers.

The Guardian - Music

Correspondents mobbed the activists as they made their way toward an airport employee with a sign reading "G9", identified in Snowden's invitation email as the marker that would lead them to him.

The Guardian

On his sudden death from a heart attack in 1970 Egyptians erupted in grief; some 5m people mobbed the funeral.

The Economist

YELLING dementedly, seven lawmakers mobbed the chairman of the Indian parliament's upper house on March 8th and tore at the document, containing the women's reservation bill, he was reading from.

The Economist

She was a staunch cold-war warrior, mobbed wherever she went behind the Iron Curtain and lauded as a herald of freedom, which she often was.An act of regicide The third term was the only one that culminated in personal humiliation, though not, as she liked to point out in her restless retirement, at the hands of the British electorate.

The Economist

In particular, they measured how closely the nestholders were willing to approach the stuffed intruder, and also how noisily the intruder was mobbed, in an attempt to drive it away.In this section Talking to the neighbours Inhaling information A question of attitude The first sparrowhawk of spring ReprintsThe barring, they found, was crucial.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "mobbed" to vividly describe the experience of being overwhelmed or surrounded by a crowd, particularly when the situation involves enthusiasm or chaos. For example, "The rock star was "mobbed" by fans after the concert."

Common error

Avoid using "mobbed" in highly formal or professional writing where a more neutral term like "surrounded" or "approached" might be more appropriate. "Mobbed" carries a connotation of disorder and excitement that may not suit every situation.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "mobbed" is a past participle of the verb "mob", often used in the passive voice to describe someone being acted upon by a crowd. It can also function as an adjective, meaning crowded as suggested by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Encyclopedias

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

2%

Social Media

1%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "mobbed" functions as a verb (past participle) or adjective, typically describing someone being overwhelmed or crowded by a group. Grammatically correct, its use is very common across diverse sources. While suitable for general descriptions, consider more formal alternatives like "surrounded" in professional contexts. As seen through Ludwig's AI analysis and examples, "mobbed" is effective for conveying excitement or chaos. Ludwig provides numerous examples across varied sources that prove that "mobbed" is a correct and effective way to express this particular state of being overwhelmed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

swarmed

Suggests a rapid and often overwhelming gathering, similar to "mobbed" but may imply a more chaotic or aggressive interaction.

thronged

Indicates a dense gathering, highlighting the presence of a crowd without necessarily implying being overwhelmed.

flocked around

Indicates a gathering with positive excitement or interest, lessening the intensity associated with "mobbed".

surrounded

Implies a neutral physical encirclement, lacking the potentially overwhelming or chaotic nature of "mobbed".

pressed

Implies being closely surrounded, with focus on physical contact and crowding without aggressive connotation.

hemmed in

Emphasizes the feeling of being trapped or restricted by a surrounding crowd, focusing on the lack of space or freedom.

besieged

Conveys a sense of being persistently approached or overwhelmed, often with requests or demands, adding a layer of stress not always present in "mobbed".

encircled

Focuses on the physical act of being surrounded, often in a deliberate or strategic manner.

overrun

Suggests being invaded or dominated by a crowd, emphasizing loss of control or order.

hounded

Implies persistent and often aggressive pursuit, adding a negative connotation of harassment or pressure not always present in "mobbed".

FAQs

How can I use "mobbed" in a sentence?

You can use "mobbed" to describe someone being surrounded by a large, often enthusiastic crowd. For example, "The celebrity was "mobbed" by fans after the show."

What's the difference between "mobbed" and "surrounded"?

"Mobbed" implies a more chaotic and overwhelming experience than "surrounded", which simply means to be enclosed on all sides.

Are there any synonyms for "mobbed" that I can use?

Yes, depending on the context, you can use words like "swarmed", "thronged", or "besieged" as alternatives to "mobbed".

Is it appropriate to use "mobbed" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "mobbed" is generally more suitable for informal contexts. In formal writing, consider using "surrounded" or a more neutral term.