gather

¹gath·er

verb \ˈga-thər also ˈge-\

gath·eredgath·er·ing\ˈgath-riŋ, ˈga-thə-\

Definition of GATHER

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 (as 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>

— gath·er·er \-thər-ər\ noun

Examples of GATHER

1. Give me just a minute to gather my things and then we can leave.
2. The coach gathered her players together.
3. She gathered her hair into a ponytail.
4. The child was gathering flowers to give to his mother.
5. The police are continuing to gather evidence relating to the crime.
6. Volunteers have been gathering contributions for the new library.
7. A crowd began to gather on the sidewalk.
8. The players gathered together to hear the coach's game plan.
9. The bicyclists gathered speed as they went downhill.

Origin of GATHER

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

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to GATHER

Synonyms: accumulate, amass, assemble, bulk (up), collect, concentrate, congregate, constellate, corral, garner, group, lump, pick up, round up, get together

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 all synonyms and antonyms

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Synonym Discussion of 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>.