Definition of gathernext
1
2
as in to harvest
to catch or collect (a crop or natural resource) for human use late summer is when we gather the tomatoes and begin canning them for the winter

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
4
5
as in to accumulate
to gradually form into a layer, pile, or mass the newspapers that had been allowed to gather on the front doorstep told thieves that the family was away on vacation

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

6
7
as in to summon
to call into being through the use of one's inner resources or powers gathered the strength to finish the marathon

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb gather differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of gather are assemble, collect, and congregate. While all these words 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

Where would assemble be a reasonable alternative to gather?

Although the words assemble and gather have much in common, assemble implies an ordered union or organization of persons or things often for a definite purpose.

experts assembled for a conference

When is collect a more appropriate choice than gather?

The words collect and gather can be used in similar contexts, but collect often implies careful selection or orderly arrangement.

collected books on gardening

When could congregate be used to replace gather?

In some situations, the words congregate and gather are roughly equivalent. However, congregate implies a spontaneous flocking together into a crowd or huddle.

congregating under a shelter

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of gather Una Madre by Alejandro Palomas Scenic Rights, Spain Set on New Year’s Eve in a Barcelona apartment, the story sees Amalia, 65, fulfill her dream of gathering her whole family for a holiday dinner. — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 27 Sep. 2026 Tonight, the biggest names in music gathered at the VMAs to see who would take home the night’s top prizes. — Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 27 Sep. 2026 During closing arguments, lawyers for Facebook claimed the state’s evidence was outdated and that despite having five years to gather material, New Mexico found only one other instance of a data breach. — Mikella Schuettler, Fortune, 26 Sep. 2026 Those in attendance gathered by LED trucks that projected footage from October 7 and portraits of those who were killed that day. — Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 26 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for gather
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gather
Verb
  • While most of us start to put extra blankets on our bed during the fall for all the cozy vibes, your bed sheets are still collecting sweat, dirt, and body oil.
    — Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 27 Sep. 2026
  • Under federal law, the Forest Service can retain at least 80% of fees collected at recreation sites and use the money locally to operate, maintain and improve them.
    — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 27 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The spacecraft can harvest energy, locate another spacecraft, and maintain a tracking link.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Even if a bill eventually passes, even if diesel comes down later this year, that won’t help the farmers harvesting crops right now.
    — Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 28 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Why Insecure Management Surfaces Three forces converge to create this dysfunctional management ecosystem.
    — Jonathan H. Westover, Forbes.com, 29 Sep. 2026
  • On Tuesday, the morning after Bonta announced the settlement agreement, protesters converged outside of Paramount Skydance’s Melrose Avenue gate criticizing the deal.
    — Stacy Perman, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The power of prediction markets derives precisely from sucking our attention toward what’s speculable—incentivizing the networked crowd to separate signal from noise at scale.
    — Simon Denny, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The first type, content inputs, derives value from frequency and corroboration.
    — Joseph Byrum, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Instead, overtones accumulate and churn and a loose banner of guitar is draped across the song.
    — Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Because microorganisms in water turn regular mercury into methylmercury, a toxic chemical form that binds tightly to fish tissue, the heavy metal accumulates to higher levels in aquatic animals.
    — Sandee LaMotte, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The aim is to help a variety of institutions gain insights into the origins of their collections, providing a basis for further actions.
    — Anne Doran, ARTnews.com, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Related Explore See latest videos, charts and news The tracking week included an extended holiday and saw few new releases, and perhaps with demand for reading also running high, long-selling novels gained points across the board.
    — Billboard Japan, Billboard, 2 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • That’s by order of the President, who summoned the captains of the AI industry to the nation’s capital Tuesday to discuss AI safety and AI regulation…or, self-regulation.
    — Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Staff cordoned off the area and summoned the police, who are investigating the case as one of criminal damage.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 28 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The new leadership team that Skydance is assembling under the direction of Ellison and Ynon Kreiz, just recruited from Mattel to serve as co-CEO, has to navigate that dynamic.
    — Todd Spangler, Variety, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Mallica Kumbera Landrus, the Ashmolean’s curator of Indian, Himalayan, and Southeast Asian art, expressed excitement over the chance to assemble a trove of Bangladeshi art.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 2 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Gather.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gather. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.

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