concourse

IPA/ˈkɒŋkɔːs/
KK[kˈɑnkˌɔrs]IPA/ˈkɑːnkɔːrs/

concourse — noun

  • concoursesingular
  • concoursesplural

1. A wide open hall inside a public building where people can walk, wait, or meet o

1.nounB1
Definition

A wide open hall inside a public building where people can walk, wait, or meet others — most often found in train stations, airports, and conference centres.

Example

Passengers waiting for the express train gathered in the main concourse of the station.

collocation: main concourse / station concourse

The airport concourse was full of travellers checking their departure gates on the screens.

Common collocations
  • main concourse
  • central concourse
  • station concourse
  • airport concourse
  • crowded concourse
Synonyms
  • hall

    a broader term for any large indoor space, not specific to transport hubs

  • lobby

    a smaller entrance area of a hotel, office, or theatre

  • atrium

    a tall indoor space with a glass roof, often in modern buildings

  • foyer

    the entrance hall of a theatre, concert hall, or hotel

Grammar Patterns

the + concourse

noun + concourse

Usage Note

Concourse is a countable noun and nearly always appears with a determiner (the, a, this). It is often modified by main, central, or the name of the building (station concourse, airport concourse).

Common Mistakes

I waited for her in concourse.
I waited for her in the concourse.
Concourse is countable and usually needs an article or determiner.
The hotel concourse was full of guests.
The hotel lobby was full of guests.
Hotels have a lobby or foyer, not a concourse; concourses are found in transport hubs and large public venues.

2. A crowd made up of many people who have come together in a single location for a

2.nounC1
Definition

A crowd made up of many people who have come together in a single location for a shared purpose or event.

Example

A vast concourse of fans gathered outside the stadium, hoping to catch a glimpse of the players.

collocation: vast concourse of + noun

The mayor stepped onto the balcony and waved to the concourse of citizens below.

Common collocations
  • vast concourse of
  • great concourse of
  • concourse of people
  • concourse of fans
Synonyms
  • crowd

    the everyday word for a large group of people; less formal than concourse

  • throng

    a large, tightly packed crowd; similar formality to concourse

  • gathering

    a neutral term for a group of people assembled for a purpose

  • assembly

    a formal or official gathering of people

Grammar Patterns

a concourse of + plural noun (people)

Usage Note

This sense is formal and more common in written or literary English than in everyday conversation. In casual speech, crowd or gathering is preferred. The phrase a concourse of is typically followed by a noun referring to people (fans, citizens, supporters).

Common Mistakes

A concourse of cars blocked the road.
A concourse of people blocked the road.
Concourse refers to a gathering of people, not vehicles or objects.
There was a concourse at the party.
There was a crowd at the party.
Concourse is too formal for casual social events; use crowd or gathering instead.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Concourse, hall, lobby, atrium, and foyer all refer to indoor public spaces, but they differ in typical size, function, and location. A concourse is specifically the large central walkway or waiting area in a transportation hub such as an airport or train station, often stretching the length of the building. A hall is a broad term for any large room or passageway in a public building and is not tied to transportation; it can be used for dining halls, concert halls, or town halls. A lobby is the smaller entrance area of a hotel, office building, or theatre where people check in or wait. An atrium is a dramatic, multi-storey indoor space with a glass roof, common in modern hotels and office buildings. A foyer is the entrance vestibule of a theatre, concert hall, or hotel, typically just inside the main doors. For example, you would say 'The train station’s main concourse is three blocks long' but not call that a lobby or foyer. Conversely, 'We waited in the theatre foyer before the show began' describes an area too small to be called a concourse.

hall ↗lobby ↗atriumfoyer ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • station concourse
  • airport concourse
  • convention centre concourse

Phrases

  • main concourse
  • central concourse
  • wide concourse

Prepositions

  • in the concourse
  • across the concourse
  • through the concourse

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Concourse comes from Latin 'concursus', meaning 'a running together'. It was formed from 'com-' (together) and 'currere' (to run). The word passed through French before entering English. The original sense was of people or things running together in one place, which later developed into both the idea of a crowd (a running together of people) and the physical space where that gathering happens.