troop

1 of 2

noun

ˈtrüp How to pronounce troop (audio)
Synonyms of troopnext
1
a
: a group of soldiers
b
: a cavalry unit corresponding to an infantry company
c
troops plural : armed forces, soldiers
2
: a collection of people or things : crew sense 2
3
: a flock of mammals or birds
4
: the basic organizational unit of Scouts under an adult leader

troop

2 of 2

verb

trooped; trooping; troops

intransitive verb

1
: to move or gather in crowds
We all trooped back in.
2
: to go one's way : walk
They trooped off to school.
3
: to spend time together : associate
4
: to move in large numbers

Synonyms of troop

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Noun

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of troop in a Sentence

Noun Where is his troop heading? a plan to withdraw troops a troop of enthusiastic children Verb We all trooped back inside. The kids trooped off to school.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Chinese Nationalist forces breached the river’s dikes near Huayuankou to slow advancing Japanese troops. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 6 Sep. 2026 Lebanon’s health ministry said that two ⁠men were killed in a town on the edge ​of ⁠the zone occupied by Israeli troops, while the two women were killed in Arab Salim, which sits well north of the occupied area. — Reuters, NBC news, 6 Sep. 2026
Verb
Although, per Cookie Queens, the Girl Scout troop itself only earns about a $1 profit from each roughly $6 box sold. — Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 7 Aug. 2026 Kate Middleton looking angry and the kids looking completely uncomfortable and confused, getting booed during trooping the colour. — Martha Ross, Mercury News, 20 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for troop

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle French trope, troupe company, herd, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English thorp, throp village — more at thorp

First Known Use

Noun

1545, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1565, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of troop was in 1545

Phrases Containing troop

Rhymes for troop

See All Rhymes for troop

Browse Nearby Words

troolie
troop
troop carrier
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Cite this Entry

“Troop.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/troop. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

troop

1 of 2 noun
ˈtrüp How to pronounce troop (audio)
1
a
: a group of soldiers
b
plural : armed forces, military
2
: a collection of people or things : company
3
: a flock of mammals or birds
4
: a unit of Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts under an adult leader

troop

2 of 2 verb
: to move or gather in crowds
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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