quite a crowd

USAGE SUMMARY

"quite a crowd" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a group of people that is busy or large in size. Example sentence: I went to the festival and there was quite a crowd.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

39 human-written examples

There was quite a crowd there".

The New York Times

"We assumed we'd have quite a crowd".

The New York Times

"Quite a crowd gathered," Boyarsky said.

The New York Times - Magazine

We managed to gather quite a crowd.

The Guardian - Arts

Cooke's class turns out to be quite a crowd.

The Guardian

There is also quite a crowd of stock supporting characters.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

19 human-written examples

Together they perform a ukulele-strumming rendition of "Yes Sir, That's My Baby" that is quite a crowd-pleaser.

The New York Times

"I don't think there is a nightclub in Madrid with quite such a crowd of people at its doors".

The Guardian

Photograph: Don Emmert/AFP/Getty Images Updated at 4.15am GMT 3.38am GMT Nothing accentuates the unique specimen that is Steve Buscemi quite like a crowd of burly city workers, who flank him as he fills during a break from the performances.

The Guardian - Music

It's insulting the implication here is that participation in this game is more important than anything anyone might otherwise doing, and you can see that in the way they look at the crowd, which is quite obviously a crowd of people who are either retired or working at the Air Force base nearby and who couldn't, personally, care less about the unemployment rate.

Vice

He had drawn quite a large crowd.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "quite a crowd" when you want to emphasize that a gathering is larger or more impressive than expected. It adds a touch of mild surprise or appreciation to the description.

Common error

While "quite a crowd" is generally acceptable, refrain from using it in highly formal documents or academic papers. Opt for more precise and professional language like "significant attendance" or "substantial gathering."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "quite a crowd" functions as a noun phrase, acting as the subject or object in a sentence. Ludwig examples show it describing the size of a gathering.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Formal & Business

1%

Science

1%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "quite a crowd" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to describe a noticeably large gathering of people. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage is widespread across news and media, indicating a neutral register. While acceptable in most contexts, more formal alternatives may be preferred in academic or professional writing. Understanding the phrase's function and appropriate contexts ensures clear and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

large turnout

Highlights the number of people who attended an event.

packed house

Implies that a venue is filled to capacity with people.

impressive attendance

Focuses on the positive aspect of having many people present.

substantial gathering

Emphasizes the considerable size of the group.

good showing

Indicates that the number of attendees was satisfactory or better.

notable assembly

Highlights the importance or remarkability of the gathering.

considerable number of people

Directly states a significant quantity of individuals.

throng of people

Suggests a densely packed crowd.

sea of faces

Uses a metaphor to describe a large, undifferentiated group.

big group

A more casual and simple way to express a large gathering.

FAQs

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

You can use "quite a crowd" to describe a large gathering of people, such as: "There was "quite a crowd" at the concert last night."

What is a similar phrase to "quite a crowd"?

Alternatives to "quite a crowd" include "large turnout", "substantial gathering", or "impressive attendance".

Is it appropriate to use "quite a crowd" in formal writing?

While generally acceptable, using more formal alternatives like "significant number of attendees" or "considerable assembly" may be more suitable for academic or professional contexts.

What does "quite" mean in the phrase "quite a crowd"?

In this context, "quite" serves as an intensifier, indicating that the crowd is noticeably large or significant. It emphasizes the size or impressiveness of the gathering.