troop

1 of 2

noun

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 Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts under an adult leader

troop

2 of 2

verb

trooped; trooping; troops

intransitive verb

1
: to move or gather in crowds
2
: to go one's way : walk
3
: to spend time together : associate
4
: to move in large numbers

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
The Pentagon chief said the reorganization of U.S. troops is a step to better prepare for a possible conflict. Arkansas Online, 31 Mar. 2025 But gains in another Russian region such as Belgorod could draw Russian troops away from Kursk where Kyiv is fighting to hold on to territory; both regions offer bargaining chips for an end to the war whose diplomacy is becoming evermore complicated. Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2025
Verb
Celebrities and academics would troop down to Havana to sit at Castro’s feet, cooing over him. Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 5 Mar. 2025 At the Dior men’s wear show on Friday afternoon, models trooped down a celestial flight of stairs, trotted around the perimeter and then descended another flight of stairs, disappearing out of view. Jacob Gallagher, New York Times, 25 Jan. 2025 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Troop.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/troop. Accessed 12 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

troop

1 of 2 noun
1
a
: a group of soldiers
b
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

More from Merriam-Webster on troop

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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