What is the difference between the verbs teem and team?
If you want to describe an overflowing abundance of something, the word you are looking for is teem. We often see reference to "the teeming masses," "streets teeming with activity," or "forests teeming with life." You want the word team if you are trying to describe pairing two or more things in a coordinated ensemble ("she teamed the oxen together"), or forming some kind of partnership or association ("we are teaming with another organization this year").
Noun
a doubles team in tennis
He is the best player on his team.
They are the worst team in baseball.
To get the job done more quickly, we split up into teams.
We worked as a team to put out the fire.
The company hired a team of lawyers to advise them.
a search and rescue team
A dog team pulled the sled. Verb
a show that teams two of television's funniest comedians
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
Weather aside, a 3-3 record against the Nats and Angels, two teams expected to finish with 90 or more losses, wasnβt much to write home about.βπ Image Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026 The 4-foot-tall and under hoopers from the city of LA's Parks and Recreation all-star girls teams started their own March Madness drama with the matchup between Team Fernangeles and Penmar Rec Center.βπ Image Laurie Perez, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
That all changed in the last few years as the WNBA gained popularity and built its audience through a bubble season and the super-team era led by Wilson and Stewart.βπ Image Shannon Ryan, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2026 Overall, the Red Storm have played 18 games at the Garden (going 11-7), but those previous appearances always came as part of multi-team events.βπ Image Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 28 Feb. 2026
Verb
Vai most recently performed in San Diego in 2024 as a member of BEAT, the ongoing King Crimson tribute band that teams him with Tool drummer Danny Carey and two Crimson alums, guitarist/singer Adrian Belew and bassist and stick player Tony Levin.βπ Image George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026 Big Agnes, an outdoor gear company based in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, teamed with the California materials science firm to debut the UL Recovery Sleeping Bag Liner with Celliant.βπ Image Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 2 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for team
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English teme, from Old English tΔam offspring, lineage, group of draft animals; akin to Old High German zoum rein, Old English tΔon to draw, pull β more at tow entry 1
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4
