collected

adjective

col·​lect·​ed kə-ˈlek-təd How to pronounce collected (audio)
1
: gathered together
the collected works of Scott
2
: possessed of calmness and composure often through concentrated effort
3
of a horse's gait : performed slowly and restrainedly with the animal's center of gravity toward the hindquarters compare extended
collectedly adverb
collectedness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for collected

cool, composed, collected, unruffled, imperturbable, nonchalant mean free from agitation or excitement.

cool may imply calmness, deliberateness, or dispassionateness.

kept a cool head

composed implies freedom from agitation as a result of self-discipline or a sedate disposition.

the composed pianist gave a flawless concert

collected implies a concentration of mind that eliminates distractions especially in moments of crisis.

the nurse stayed calm and collected

unruffled suggests apparent serenity and poise in the face of setbacks or in the midst of excitement.

harried but unruffled

imperturbable implies coolness or assurance even under severe provocation.

the speaker remained imperturbable despite the heckling

nonchalant stresses an easy coolness of manner or casualness that suggests indifference or unconcern.

a nonchalant driver

Examples of collected in a Sentence

the collected works of Shakespeare She seemed completely cool, calm, and collected during her speech.
Recent Examples on the Web Also, finding one-of-a-kind art at the thrift is a great way to give a personal, collected look to your space. Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 4 Oct. 2024 Since there are so few walls, surfaces and pieces of furniture in the intimate place, every single element was carefully considered to feel layered in a collected vintage style inspired in part by Vowels’s grandmother. Kathryn Romeyn, Architectural Digest, 7 Oct. 2024 Hanging onto antique pieces will create a collected and intentional look in your home that will not fade with passing trends. Claire Hoppe, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Oct. 2024 Parry died in 2018, leaving behind all of his collected files, including 23 gigabytes of documents. Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 2 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for collected 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'collected.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

from past participle of collect entry 2

First Known Use

circa 1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of collected was circa 1548

Dictionary Entries Near collected

Cite this Entry

“Collected.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/collected. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

collected

adjective
col·​lect·​ed kə-ˈlek-təd How to pronounce collected (audio)
: being calm and in control of oneself
collectedly adverb
collectedness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on collected

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