gathering

1 of 2

noun

gath·​er·​ing ˈga-t͟hə-riŋ How to pronounce gathering (audio)
ˈgat͟h-
plural gatherings
1
: a coming together of people in a group (as for social, religious, or political purposes) : assembly, meeting
an informal gathering
a gathering of world leaders
planned a big family gathering
2
: the collecting of food or raw materials from the wild
Hunting and gathering also added to the food supply. Wild fruits, berries and mollusks were gathered …Barbara A. Leitch
… peoples who raise domesticated animals and who do not depend on hunting, gathering, or the planting of their own crops …Marvin Harris
3
4
: a gather in cloth
5
: a suppurating swelling : abscess

gathering

2 of 2

present participle of gather entry 1

Examples of gathering in a Sentence

Noun I see my cousins only at occasional family gatherings. dinner parties and other social gatherings a gathering of political leaders
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The worry stems from a set of Chinese national security laws that compel organizations to assist with intelligence gathering. Kevin Freking, Fortune, 13 Mar. 2024 With the pact completed, Kassan had a massive gathering to use for networking and meetings. Brian Steinberg, Variety, 13 Mar. 2024 Grimstad’s grooming behaviors started during family gatherings in a basement bedroom of their grandmother’s house in Edina, a Minneapolis suburb, Boudreau said. USA TODAY, 12 Mar. 2024 Whereas newly ascendant warriors and merchants used the tea gathering to flaunt their wealth, wabi-style tea emphasized subtlety, frugality and restraint. Paul S. Atkins, The Conversation, 12 Mar. 2024 But the speculation largely continued raging online, especially on social media, fueled by other incidents within the royal family – such as Prince William pulling out of an important family gathering earlier this month without public explanation. Mitchell McCluskey, CNN, 11 Mar. 2024 The start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan usually brings a time of religious devotion, dawn-to-dusk fasting, family gatherings and nightly feasts. Andrew Jacobs, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2024 As Brosnan enjoys his moment in the spotlight, see all the stars who came out to celebrate him at the 2024 gathering. Kate Hogan, Peoplemag, 8 Mar. 2024 Hendrick’s Grand Cabaret is designed to appeal to free-spirited souls seeking a wildly indulgent, yet refreshing spirit for glorious gatherings of all manner — inspired by Parisian parties in the 1920s when stone fruit was all the rage. Amber Love Bond, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'gathering.' 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

Noun

Middle English gaderyng, gederunge, going back to Old English gadrung, gædrung, gegaderung, gegadrung "joining, union, assembly," from gadrian, gaderian "to join, unite, gather entry 1" + -ung -ing entry 3

First Known Use

Noun

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

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

Dictionary Entries Near gathering

Cite this Entry

“Gathering.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gathering. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

gathering

noun
1
2
: a pus-filled swelling (as an abscess)
3
: the collecting of food and raw materials from the wild
4
5
: a gather in cloth

Medical Definition

gathering

noun
gath·​er·​ing
: a suppurating swelling : abscess

More from Merriam-Webster on gathering

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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