mob

1 of 2

noun

ˈmäb 

1

: a large and disorderly crowd of people

especially : one bent on riotous or destructive action

2

informal : a large number of people

a mob of shoppers clogged the aisles

a team greeted by mobs of fans

3

: a criminal set : gang

especially, often Mob : mafia sense 1

a member of the Mob

a mob informant

4

old-fashioned : the common people : masses

5

chiefly Australia : a flock, drove, or herd of animals

mobbish

ˈmä-bish 

adjective

mob

2 of 2

verb

mobbed; mobbing

transitive verb

1

: to crowd about and attack or annoy

mobbed by autograph hunters

a crow mobbed by songbirds

2

: to crowd into or around

Customers mob the stores on sale days.

Synonyms of mob

Noun

• crowd
• throng
• swarm
• horde
• flock

Verb

• flock

Choose the Right Synonym for mob

crowd, throng, horde, crush, mob mean an assembled multitude.

crowd implies a close gathering and pressing together.

a crowd gathered

throng and horde suggest movement and pushing.

a throng of reporters

a horde of shoppers

crush emphasizes the compactness of the group, the difficulty of individual movement, and the attendant discomfort.

a crush of fans

mob implies a disorderly crowd with the potential for violence.

an angry mob

Examples of mob in a Sentence

Noun

The angry mob smashed store windows and attacked people on the streets.

The police had to be called in to handle the growing mob.

He was jailed for his dealings with the Mob.

Verb

The actor's fans mobbed him wherever he went.

Shoppers mobbed the stores during the holidays.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The real gem of Forth is Il Premio, a glam Italian steakhouse that would make any mob wife feel right at home with its moody lighting, mahogany tones, black subway tile, and a playful horse motif. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Oct. 2026

Bow down to the left-wing media mob to appease podcasters like Wilder and Hill? — Dan Zaksheske Outkick, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2026

Verb

Perez was then mobbed by teammates in the end zone and did a big man dance while the sideline celebrated. — ABC News, 19 Sep. 2026

From despair to salvation and then back again, the picture at the end of Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Manchester United was of flailing limbs, both on the touchline, as players mobbed late, late equaliser-scorer Ainsley Maitland-Niles, and in the stands. — Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Latin mobile vulgus vacillating crowd

First Known Use

Noun

1688, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1696, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing mob

• flash mob
• lynch mob
• mob boss
• mob scene
• the mob

Rhymes for mob

• blob
• bob
• cob
• daub
• fob
• glob
• gob
• hob
• job
• knob
• lob
• rob

Kids Definition

mob

1 of 2 noun

ˈmäb 

1

: the common people : masses

2

: a large rowdy crowd : rabble

3

: a criminal gang

mob

2 of 2 verb

mobbed; mobbing

: to crowd about and attack or annoy