thousands strong

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "thousands strong" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe a large group of people or things, emphasizing their size or strength in numbers. Example: "The protest drew thousands strong, filling the streets with passionate voices demanding change."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

The response exploded: within days, Budhathoki was at the centre of a worldwide team thousands strong.

The Guardian

But when he showed up in his work uniform and saw a mass of fast-food workers, thousands strong, he found his voice.

The New York Times - Magazine

But we're talking about a cult thousands strong, armed with fighter planes and rocket launchers.

Forbes

Soon a red throng had gathered around us, thousands strong, and we found ourselves standing out as much for our paleness of attire as our paleness of skin.

Forbes

The crowd, tens of thousands strong, waited for hours — and when Kim arrived, it roared.

Los Angeles Times

Thousands strong, Saddam Hussein's personal hard-core paramilitary groups have become the wild card in the war against Iraq.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

The Rajputs are a powerful voice in India, tens of millions strong, historically a warrior caste.

The New York Times

At 11 a.m. yesterday, "One Million Strong for Barack" had 278,100 members.

The Washington Post

But the core of the group, hundreds strong, has steadfastly rejected reconciliation and last year aligned itself with Al Qaeda.

The New York Times

Eleven-million strong Greece gets hundreds of billions of bailouts and regular visits of the IMF, EU Commission and European Central Bank.

Forbes

They have customer bases that are hundreds of millions if not billions strong.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "thousands strong" to emphasize the size and potential impact of a group, particularly when their collective strength or unity is relevant to the context.

Common error

Avoid using "thousands strong" to describe inanimate objects. It's better suited for groups of people or animals where a sense of collective power or number is implied. For objects, use phrases like "numbering in the thousands" or "thousands in number".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "thousands strong" functions as a postpositive adjective, modifying a noun to describe a group numbering in the thousands and emphasizing its size and potential collective power. Ludwig AI validates that this usage is grammatically sound and common.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Wiki

10%

Academia

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Science

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "thousands strong" is a versatile and grammatically sound way to describe a large group, emphasizing both its size and potential collective impact. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a commonly used expression across various contexts, particularly in news and media. When using this phrase, remember that it is most effective when applied to groups of people or animals. Be sure to consider semantically similar alternatives such as "numbering in the thousands" if you're looking for a slightly different nuance. By following these tips, you can effectively harness the descriptive power of the phrase "thousands strong".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

numbering in the thousands

This alternative directly specifies the numerical range, emphasizing the quantity.

thousands in number

This rephrasing highlights the sheer volume of individuals or items.

a multitude of thousands

This option emphasizes the immensity and impressiveness of the group.

several thousand

This alternative suggests a more approximate number within the thousands range.

a throng of thousands

This phrase evokes a sense of a densely packed and bustling crowd.

a force of thousands

This alternative implies a group possessing power or influence due to its size.

thousands upon thousands

This option intensifies the idea of a very large number, potentially exceeding a simple count of thousands.

in the thousands

This is a more general way of indicating a quantity within the thousands range, without specifying strength.

thousands deep

This evokes the image of the crowd's density.

thousands assembled

This emphasizes the act of gathering, highlighting the coming together of a large group.

FAQs

How can I use "thousands strong" in a sentence?

The phrase "thousands strong" is typically used to describe a group of people or animals, emphasizing their large size or numbers, for example: "The protest was "thousands strong"".

What are some alternatives to saying "thousands strong"?

You can use phrases like "numbering in the thousands", "thousands in number", or "a multitude of thousands" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "thousands strong" when referring to objects?

While grammatically acceptable, it is more common and effective to use "thousands strong" to describe groups of people or animals. For objects, consider alternatives like "numbering in the thousands".

What does "thousands strong" emphasize in a sentence?

The phrase "thousands strong" emphasizes both the large quantity and the potential collective power or impact of the group being described. It implies a sense of unity and force arising from their numbers.