Antonyms for gang


Grammar : Noun
Spell : gang
Phonetic Transcription : gæŋ


Definition of gang

Origin :
  • from Old English gang "a going, journey, way, passage," and Old Norse gangr "a group of men, a set," both from Proto-Germanic *gangaz (cf. Old Saxon, Old Frisian, Danish, Dutch, Old High German, German gang, Old Norse gangr, Gothic gagg "act of going"), from PIE root *ghengh- "to step" (cf. Sanskrit jangha "shank," Avestan zanga- "ankle," Lithuanian zengiu "I stride"). Thus not considered to be related to go.
  • The sense evolution is probably via meaning "a set of articles that usually are taken together in going" (mid-14c.), especially a set of tools used on the same job. By 1620s this had been extended in nautical speech to mean "a company of workmen," and by 1630s the word was being used, with disapproving overtones, for "any band of persons traveling together." Gangway preserves the original sense of the word, as does gangplank.
  • noun group, mob of people
Example sentences :
  • But no doubt the gang had thought caution to be the better part of hate.
  • Extract from : « Way of the Lawless » by Max Brand
  • "And that's why she's here now with a gang of crooks," he retorted.
  • Extract from : « Within the Law » by Marvin Dana
  • Then, when you get in with the right people, you will open the front door some night and let in the gang.
  • Extract from : « Within the Law » by Marvin Dana
  • I want to be sure to give the Turner woman time to get here while that gang is at work.
  • Extract from : « Within the Law » by Marvin Dana
  • If you're caught here to-night, where would you get off—caught here with a gang of burglars?
  • Extract from : « Within the Law » by Marvin Dana
  • He had been defied, trapped, made a victim of the gang who had killed his most valued informer.
  • Extract from : « Within the Law » by Marvin Dana
  • When you hear that, come right in here, and tell me that the gang has squealed.
  • Extract from : « Within the Law » by Marvin Dana
  • A solitary ruffian, indeed, is moody, but a gang of ruffians are jovial.
  • Extract from : « Night and Morning, Complete » by Edward Bulwer-Lytton
  • Gang but and get some sleep, for it's time we were at oor work.
  • Extract from : « A Doctor of the Old School, Part 3 » by Ian Maclaren
  • But I think they'll a' gang daft, and spill bluid like wather!'
  • Extract from : « The Life And Adventures Of Nicholas Nickleby » by Charles Dickens

Synonyms for gang

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019