congregate

¹con·gre·gate

verb \-ˌgāt\

con·gre·gat·edcon·gre·gat·ing

Definition of CONGREGATE

transitive verb

: to collect into a group or crowd : assemble

intransitive verb

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

— con·gre·ga·tor \-ˌgā-tər\ noun

Examples of CONGREGATE

1. It's a place where the homeless congregate.
2. Skiers congregated around the lodge's fireplace.

Origin of CONGREGATE

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

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to CONGREGATE

Synonyms

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

Antonyms

dispel, disperse, dissipate, scatter

Related Words

ball, batch, bunch, cluster, huddle; heap, pile, stack; band, brigade, muster, raise, rally; flock, herd, hive, pack, press, swarm, throng; combine, connect, join, link, merge, pool, unite; archive, arrange, collate, compile, organize, systematize; scrape (up or together); re-collect, regather, regroup

Near Antonyms

break up, disband, disintegrate, dissolve, separate, sever, split (up); dismiss, send

See Synonym Discussion at gather

²con·gre·gate

adjective \-gət\

Definition of CONGREGATE

: providing or being group services or facilities designed especially for elderly persons requiring supportive services <congregate housing>

First Known Use of CONGREGATE

1900

Rhymes with CONGREGATE

betel nut, butternut, coconut, hazelnut, intercut, Lilliput, occiput, overcut, scuttlebutt, undercut, uppercut