swarm
swarm — noun
1. many insects, such as bees, wasps, or ants, flying or moving together as one mas
many insects, such as bees, wasps, or ants, flying or moving together as one mass
A swarm of bees flew out of the old tree and straight into the garden.
a swarm of + insect type
The hikers ran when they saw a swarm of wasps coming toward them.
A thick swarm of mosquitoes rose from the swamp just before sunset.
Pim noticed a swarm of ants marching across the kitchen counter.
The beekeeper gently moved the swarm into a new wooden hive near the barn.
文法句型
a swarm of [insects]
2. many people making their way together in a busy, hurried, or excited fashion
many people making their way together in a busy, hurried, or excited fashion
A swarm of excited fans rushed toward the stage as soon as the concert ended.
a swarm of + people type
Swarms of eager shoppers filled the main streets during the New Year sales.
Zuri tried to push through the swarm of tourists blocking the museum entrance.
A swarm of journalists followed the politician as she walked to her car.
Out the window, Lan saw a swarm of people heading to the town square.
- trickle
a small, slow movement of people, the opposite of a large surge
文法句型
a swarm of [people]
3. a number of drones (= small pilotless aircraft controlled from the ground) movin
a number of drones (= small pilotless aircraft controlled from the ground) moving together to perform a task
A swarm of drones lit up the night sky during the festival's opening ceremony.
a swarm of drones
The rescue team used a swarm of small drones to search the mountain area.
Noa watched a swarm of delivery drones flying low over the city rooftops.
The company plans to deploy a swarm of agricultural drones to monitor the crops.
文法句型
a swarm of [drones]
用法筆記
Often used in military, commercial, or entertainment contexts for coordinated groups of drones.
swarm — verb
1. of insects such as bees or ants, to move together in very large numbers as one m
of insects such as bees or ants, to move together in very large numbers as one mass
The bees swarmed around the hive after the young queen escaped from it.
intransitive: swarm around + location
Every spring the ants swarm across the garden path searching for food.
Locusts swarmed across the dry fields during the hottest weeks of summer.
When the hive became too crowded, the bees swarmed and flew to a new home.
- scatter
to separate and move in different directions, the opposite of gathering in a swarm
文法句型
swarm [preposition] [location]
swarm to [new location]
用法筆記
This sense is specifically about insects. When used of people, the verb has a different meaning (see verb/2).
常見錯誤
2. of people, to move somewhere quickly in large numbers, often because of exciteme
of people, to move somewhere quickly in large numbers, often because of excitement or urgency
As soon as the gates opened, the excited crowd swarmed into the football stadium.
swarm + into (direction)
Children swarmed around the ice-cream truck when it arrived in the park.
Mert saw tourists swarm onto the beach after the rain clouds finally disappeared.
Fans swarmed around the singer outside the hotel hoping for a quick photograph.
- disperse
to break up and go in different directions
文法句型
swarm + adverb/preposition (into, around, onto, toward)
用法筆記
Unlike the noun form, the verb emphasises urgent or excited movement. The direction of movement is always stated through an adverb or prepositional phrase.
常見錯誤
3. to be full of moving people, insects, or other things — for example, a market sw
to be full of moving people, insects, or other things — for example, a market swarming with shoppers, or a kitchen swarming with ants
The old market was swarming with shoppers looking for fresh fish and vegetables.
be swarming with [people]
In summer the lake shore swarms with mosquitoes and other tiny insects.
After the big announcement social media swarmed with comments from excited users.
The kitchen was swarming with ants after the sugar bag fell off the shelf.
- empty
to become empty; the opposite of being full of moving things
文法句型
swarm with [people/insects/things]
be swarming with [something]
用法筆記
Almost always followed by the preposition 'with'. The continuous form ('was swarming with', 'is swarming with') is the most common pattern. A location must come before the verb as the subject — you cannot say 'people swarm with the market'; the market swarms with people.