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View synonyms for

gang

1

[ gang ]

noun

  1. a group or band:

    A gang of boys gathered around the winning pitcher.

    Synonyms: , , , , , , , ,

  2. a group of youngsters or adolescents who associate closely, often exclusively, for social reasons, especially such a group engaging in delinquent behavior.
  3. a group of people with compatible tastes or mutual interests who gather together for social reasons:

    I'm throwing a party for the gang I bowl with.

  4. a group of persons working together; squad; shift:

    a gang of laborers.

    Synonyms:

  5. a group of persons associated for some criminal or other antisocial purpose:

    a gang of thieves.

  6. a set of tools, electronic components or circuits, oars, etc., arranged to work together or simultaneously.
  7. a group of identical or related items.


verb (used with object)

  1. to arrange in groups or sets; form into a gang:

    to gang illustrations for more economical printing on one sheet.

  2. to attack in a gang.

verb (used without object)

  1. to form or act as a gang:

    Cutthroats who gang together hang together.

verb phrase

  1. Informal. (of a number of persons) to unite in opposition to (a person); combine against:

    The bigger boys ganged up on the smaller ones in the schoolyard.

gang

2

[ gang ]

verb (used without object)

Chiefly Scot. and North England.
  1. to walk or go.

gang

1

/ ɡæŋ /

noun

  1. a group of people who associate together or act as an organized body, esp for criminal or illegal purposes
  2. an organized group of workmen
  3. a herd of buffaloes or elks or a pack of wild dogs
  4. a group of shearers who travel to different shearing sheds, shearing, classing, and baling wool
    1. a series of similar tools arranged to work simultaneously in parallel
    2. ( as modifier )

      a gang saw

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. to form into, become part of, or act as a gang
  2. tr electronics to mount (two or more components, such as variable capacitors) on the same shaft, permitting adjustment by a single control
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

gang

2

/ ɡæŋ /

verb

  1. to go
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

gang

3

/ ɡæŋ /

noun

  1. a variant spelling of gangue
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ganged, adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of gang1

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English gang, gong, Old English gang, gong “manner of going, way, passage”; cognate with Old High German gang, Old Norse gangr, Gothic gagg; gang 2

Origin of gang2

First recorded before 900; Middle English gangen, Old English gangan, gongan; cognate with Old High German gangan, Old Norse ganga, Gothic gaggan; gang 1 (noun derivative from same root)
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Word History and Origins

Origin of gang1

Old English gang journey; related to Old Norse gangr, Old High German gang, Sanskrit jangha foot

Origin of gang2

Old English gangan to go 1
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Idioms and Phrases

In addition to the idiom beginning with gang , also see like gangbusters .
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

The book explores the exploitation of undocumented Angelenos by both gang overlords and local law enforcement.

From

The court heard the head of the conspiracy was a man who had since died, with the seven defendants having differing roles in the gang.

From

A gang of thieves from London who stole ancient artefacts from a Swiss museum have been jailed for plotting to kill a cage fighter at his luxury home.

From

Administration officials allege he was a member of MS-13, a Salvadoran crime gang, which he denies.

From

Last weekend, the justices temporarily blocked the Trump administration from carrying out deportations of Venezuelan men deemed foreign gang members.

From

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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