noun
Uncommon
horde
hawd
Horde (noun) means a large, often unruly crowd of people. Example: “A horde of shoppers rushed in when the doors opened.”
noun
1
A large, often unruly crowd of people.
"A horde of shoppers rushed in when the doors opened."
2
A wandering tribe or group, especially of nomadic people.
"Historians describe the Mongol hordes sweeping across Asia."
verb
1
To move together in a large crowd.
"Fans horded toward the stage as the band appeared."
How to use horde
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA large, often disorderly crowd, or historically a nomadic tribe.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "hoard", which means a stockpile of stored goods — hordes are people, hoards are things.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
a horde of tourists
invading hordes
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like horde.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- hordes
- Third person singular
- hordes
- Past tense
- horded
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A _____ of shoppers rushed in when the doors opened.
Etymology
Entered English in the 1500s via French and German from Russian orda ("horde, clan, troop"), tracing back to a Turkic word for a ruler's camp or army. Related to the word "Urdu".
Class of 1500
horde joined the language around 1500.
See the full Class of 1500 →
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for horde
See all rhymes for horde →Frequently asked questions
What does “horde” mean?
The word “horde” means a large, often unruly crowd of people. In plain terms, a large, often disorderly crowd, or historically a nomadic tribe.
How do you pronounce “horde”?
“Horde” is pronounced hawd (/hɔɹd/ in IPA).
How do you use “horde” in a sentence?
Here is “horde” used in a sentence: “A horde of shoppers rushed in when the doors opened.”
What part of speech is “horde”?
Depending on how it is used, “horde” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “horde” come from?
The word “horde” dates back to around 1500 and comes from French. Entered English in the 1500s via French and German from Russian orda ("horde, clan, troop"), tracing back to a Turkic word for a ruler's camp or army. Related to the word "Urdu".
Is “horde” a common word?
“Horde” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “horde” have?
“Horde” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a large, often unruly crowd of people.
