swarming

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'swarming' is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a large number of people or animals moving around in a disorderly way or gathering together in a dense mass. For example: "The streets were swarming with tourists during the summer months."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

And although I lacked the 60s outfit, on that drive with my dad I realised that London, even with "millions of people swarming like flies" around the underground, could be my home.

The Guardian - Music

I find myself seated on a bench on the outer rim of Vanak Square, swarming with morality police, when another man takes a seat beside me.

The Guardian

"The cops arrived on Monday and have been swarming over the farm since then," said a witness, who did not want to be named.

The Guardian

The place is swarming with Brits, particularly in the run-up to Christmas.

The Guardian - Travel

The little square was swarming with people, but its charm survives the daily sea-borne invasion, and it doesn't take long to find peace and quiet on the island.

The Guardian - Travel

Though it's cold and difficult to find your way around, the place is swarming with Brits.

The Guardian - Travel

After "the great dazzling explosion of unreality" ends, the population is left to face "the unburied corpses swarming with flies and beginning to rot under their very noses, the bruised backs of those whom they had whipped".

The Guardian - Books

When air is pumped rapidly out of small holes in a ship's hull, the swarming bubbles will quickly join together and coat the hull with a layer of air a centimetre or two thick.

The Economist

Investors are swarming over the capital, looking for bargains and betting on a (still shaky) economic recovery.Banks with dubious property portfolios have been selling their real-estate management arms to private-equity firms.

The Economist

Such networks, he says, are also useful to foreign journalists seeking trustworthy contacts in his homeland, which is swarming with security agents.

The Economist

And she no longer has to work outdoors all day in the blazing sun and torrential monsoon rain.The swarming flies and sickly, fetid smell that fill the shed do not seem to put her off her work.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "swarming", ensure the subject is capable of collective movement. It's most effective when describing groups of people, insects, or similar entities.

Common error

Avoid using "swarming" to describe static or inanimate objects. It's more appropriate for describing dynamic movements of living entities rather than, for example, "swarming data."

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "swarming" is a verb, often used as a present participle or gerund. It describes the action of a large group moving or gathering together, as seen in the Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Encyclopedias

10%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Wiki

7%

Reference

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "swarming" functions primarily as a verb, denoting the action of moving or gathering in large numbers. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and broad applicability. It is commonly used in contexts such as "News & Media" and "Encyclopedias", conveying a sense of concentrated movement or presence. While its register is neutral, "swarming" is most effective when describing groups capable of collective motion and should be avoided with inanimate objects. Alternatives include "teeming" and "thronging", each with slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

teeming

Suggests an abundance or overflow, implying a great quantity filling a space.

thronging

Indicates a dense crowd actively moving and pressing together.

crowding

Implies a dense gathering, often causing a restriction of space or movement.

flocking

Suggests a gathering, often with a sense of purpose or direction, like birds.

overrunning

Implies a spread of control over an area, often with negative connotations.

infesting

Suggests a troublesome presence, often used with pests or unwanted organisms.

congregating

Implies a formal or deliberate gathering for a specific purpose.

massing

Indicates a large group gathering in preparation for something, like an army.

pouring

Describes a continuous flow or movement of a large number of entities.

gathering en masse

Emphasizes the large scale and collective nature of the gathering.

FAQs

How can I use "swarming" in a sentence?

Use "swarming" to describe a large group of people or animals moving together in a concentrated way. For example, "The streets were "swarming" with tourists."

What words are similar to "swarming"?

Alternatives to "swarming" include "teeming", "thronging", or "crowding" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "the city is swarming with tourists"?

Yes, "The city is "swarming" with tourists" is grammatically correct and commonly used to describe a large number of tourists in a city.

What's the difference between "swarming" and "gathering"?

"Swarming" implies a more active and often chaotic movement toward a location, while "gathering" suggests a more static and organized assembly. For example people can be "swarming" towards a place to gather to an event.