gather

1 of 2

verb

gath·​er ˈga-t͟hər How to pronounce gather (audio)
 also  ˈge-
gathered; gathering ˈga-t͟hə-riŋ How to pronounce gather (audio)
ˈgat͟h-

transitive verb

1
: to bring together : collect
tried to gather a crowd
gathered firewood
2
a
: pick, harvest
gather flowers
b
: to pick up or amass as if by harvesting
gathering ideas for the project
c
: to scoop up or take up from a resting place
gathered the child up in his arms
3
: to serve as an attraction for : accumulate
books gathering dust
4
: to effect the collection of
gather contributions
5
a
: to summon up
gathered his courage
b
: to gain by gradual increase
gather speed
c
: to prepare (oneself) by mustering strength
d
: to gain or regain control of
gathered his wits
6
: to reach a conclusion often intuitively from hints or through inferences
I gather that you want to leave
7
a
: to pull (fabric) along a line of stitching so as to draw into puckers
b
: to draw about or close to something
gathering her cloak about her
c
: to bring together the parts of
gathered her hair into a ponytail
d
: to assemble (the signatures of a book) in sequence for binding
e
: to haul in
the sailors gathered the sails

intransitive verb

1
a
: to come together in a body
b
: to cluster around a focus of attraction
2
a
: to swell and fill with pus
b
: grow, increase
the gathering crisis
gatherer
ˈga-t͟hər-ər How to pronounce gather (audio)
 also  ˈge-
noun

gather

2 of 2

noun

1
: something brought together: such as
a
: a puckering in cloth made by gathering (see gather entry 1 sense 7a)
b
: a mass of molten glass collected for use in glassblowing
2
: an act or instance of bringing together
Choose the Right Synonym for gather

gather, collect, assemble, congregate mean to come or bring together into a group, mass, or unit.

gather is the most general term for bringing or coming together from a spread-out or scattered state.

a crowd quickly gathered

collect often implies careful selection or orderly arrangement.

collected books on gardening

assemble implies an ordered union or organization of persons or things often for a definite purpose.

experts assembled for a conference

congregate implies a spontaneous flocking together into a crowd or huddle.

congregating under a shelter

synonyms see in addition infer

Examples of gather in a Sentence

Verb Give me just a minute to gather my things and then we can leave. The coach gathered her players together. She gathered her hair into a ponytail. The child was gathering flowers to give to his mother. The police are continuing to gather evidence relating to the crime. Volunteers have been gathering contributions for the new library. A crowd began to gather on the sidewalk. The players gathered together to hear the coach's game plan. The bicyclists gathered speed as they went downhill.
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.
Verb
OnX gathers that data and builds layers of graphics that show exactly where app users should avoid and displays it on a phone or tablet on the onX Backcountry, onX Offroad, and onX Hunt apps. Kristin Shaw, Popular Science, 14 Nov. 2024 The rating labels schools and districts earn should be changed to be easier for the public to understand, but that should be done after research and gathering public feedback. Yesenia Robles, The Denver Post, 14 Nov. 2024
Noun
The depressive gathers in the course of his daily life particular items, elements that will be useful to him when, inevitably, the next period of joy-death occurs. Cory Leadbeater, The Atlantic, 1 July 2024 The lesson, one gathers, is that memories should be touched by a whole range of emotions; our mental well-being requires us to accept these feelings rather than single-mindedly chasing joy. Jay Caspian Kang, The New Yorker, 21 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for gather 

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English gaderen, from Old English gaderian; akin to Middle High German gadern to unite — more at good

Noun

derivative of gather entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1555, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of gather was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near gather

Cite this Entry

“Gather.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gather. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

gather

1 of 2 verb
gath·​er ˈgat͟h-ər How to pronounce gather (audio)
 also  ˈget͟h-
gathered; gathering ˈgat͟h-(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce gather (audio)
1
: to bring together : collect
2
3
: to gain by gradual increase
gather speed
4
: to prepare (as oneself) by calling on strength
gather courage to dive
5
: to draw about or close to something
6
: to pull (cloth) along a line of stitching so as to draw into puckers
7
8
: to come together in a body or around a center of attraction
a crowd gathered round
9
: increase entry 1, grow
a storm gathered outside
gatherer noun

gather

2 of 2 noun
: the result of gathering cloth : pucker

Medical Definition

gather

intransitive verb
gathered; gathering -(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce gather (audio)
: to swell and fill with pus
the boil is gathering

More from Merriam-Webster on gather

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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