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to mob

to mob

3 5.5
To crowd around someone or something closely and quickly
  • verb
  • /mɑb/
translation icon : rodear
  • As the actor exited the theater, a crowd began to mob him for autographs and photos.
  • mob him for autographs
  • fans who mob
  • People mob

And literally, I couldn't go into a Walmart without getting mobbed.

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Examples

  • When the band arrived at the festival, they were mobbed by excited fans eager to meet them.

  • People mob Sandy, causing her to hide James from curious eyes.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • I walked in for breakfast after the TV show and I got mobbed by the these two women came after me.

  • I went to Magic Mountain with some friends and kind of got mobbed by teenage girls.

  • And you, as soon as I hit the door of the mall, I was just mobbed by people.

  • One particular lunch lady must have thought we were going to mob her, and as she was blocking the door, she started to insist that we stay behind a yellow line a foot from the door.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • The cars are blocked from returning to the command tents as the reporters mob the first car in line.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • As the reporters continue to mob Brooke, Elle steps aside to talk to Serena and Margot.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • After winning the championship, fans began to mob the player to congratulate him.

Synonyms

to crowd
vsto mob
175 1.6

To move many people or animals into a small space

implies approaching and overwhelming someone specifically rather than only filling space
to flock
vsto mob
74 2.0

To move together in large numbers

is more about moving together than surrounding and overwhelming a single target
to jam
vsto mob
46 3.2

Push people or things together so they cannot move easily

involves surrounding and overwhelming a person rather than only blocking movement
to mass
vsto mob
34 4.8

To come together in a large group

emphasizes gathering broadly rather than surrounding and overwhelming one person
to gang up
vsto mob
  • Informal
27 4.3

To join with other people to criticize or oppose someone

focuses on hostile unity and intent rather than mainly physical surrounding
to throng
vsto mob
7 6.4

To gather closely in large numbers in a place

highlights approaching and overwhelming a place or person rather than loose gathering
2 3.0

To stand or move closely in a group

focuses on surrounding and overwhelming an individual rather than general gathering
to crowd in on
vsto mob
1 4.8

To move close together around a person or thing leaving little space

surround and overwhelm someone as an intense group action
to beswarm
vsto mob
  • Archaic
9.9

To gather in large numbers around a person or place like a swarm

overwhelm a person or thing by pressing in tightly as a group

Antonyms

2.3

To avoid touching and disturbing a person, animal or object

256 4.2

To keep someone or something apart from others

Compounds

lynch mob
  • Offensive
13 9.4

A group of people who kill or threaten to kill someone without a trial because of hate

flash mob
  • Texting
9 4.6

A group of people who suddenly gather in public to perform a planned unusual act and then leave

rent-a-mob
  • Slang
9.1

People paid to join a protest to make it look bigger

6.5

A group of people who meet quickly to pick up litter in a public place

trash mob
  • Jargon
6.6

A group of weak enemies in a game that are easy to defeat

woke mob
  • Offensive
9.6

A group of people who quickly and strongly criticise others online for social or political views

How Crowded

to besiege
19 8.3
to mob
3 5.5
to gather
1.0

Surface Forms

mob infinitive
mobbed past
mobbed past participle
mobbing present participle
mobs third person singular

Etymology

To mob someone comes from the noun mob and the idea of mobile or 'moving' in a group, so it means to crowd around or overwhelm someone. So to mob a person is to surround them all at once with many people.