congregate

1 of 2

verb

con·​gre·​gate ˈkäŋ-gri-ˌgāt 

congregated; congregating

transitive verb

: to collect into a group or crowd : assemble

The king congregated his knights.

intransitive verb

: to come together into a group, crowd, or assembly

Students congregated in the auditorium.

congregator

ˈkäŋ-gri-ˌgā-tər 

noun

congregate

2 of 2

adjective

con·​gre·​gate ˈkäŋ-gri-gət 

: providing or being group services or facilities designed especially for elderly persons requiring supportive services

congregate housing

Synonyms

Verb

• accumulate
• amass
• assemble
• bulk (up)
• collect
• concentrate
• constellate
• corral
• garner
• gather
• group
• lump
• pick up
• round up

Choose the Right Synonym for congregate

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

Examples of congregate in a Sentence

Verb

It's a place where the homeless congregate.

Skiers congregated around the lodge's fireplace.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Kennedy boasts a sizable online following, with many of his most ardent followers congregating on the candidate's Reddit forum. —Brittany Shepherd, ABC News, 26 Apr. 2024

Prosecutors played a video in which groups of people were congregated around Sharif Jewelers about 3 a.m. —Ishani Desai, Sacramento Bee, 9 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Adjective

Middle English, from Latin congregatus, past participle of congregare, from com- + greg-, grex flock

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Adjective

1900, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

congregate

verb

con·​gre·​gate

ˈkäŋ-gri-ˌgāt

congregated; congregating

: to come together into a group or crowd

congregator

-ˌgāt-ər

noun

Etymology

Verb

Middle English congregaten "to collect or assemble together," derived from Latin congregare "to assemble, gather," from con-, com- "with, together" and gregare "to gather into a flock or herd," from greg-, grex "flock, herd" — related to aggregate, gregarious, segregate