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 On the same day that the Politico article was published, Miller gathered agency leaders at the White House to discuss the administration’s success in spending funds appropriated with the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Michael Scherer, The Atlantic, 29 Jan. 2026 Craven Faults albums tend to move on a bell curve, steadily gathering and releasing themselves like a storm system’s cycle. Dash Lewis, Pitchfork, 29 Jan. 2026 The sea ice loss may also lead to more ringed seals gathering in smaller areas of sea ice, which could make polar bear hunting more efficient. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 29 Jan. 2026 Quick, dense, and succinct, TDS gathers the latest automotive headlines from around the globe and places them in one spot. Joel Feder, The Drive, 29 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for gather
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gather
Verb
  • Police took photos of the tire tracks outside his house and collected soil from his driveway and lawn.
    Sarah Prior, CBS News, 25 Jan. 2026
  • Georgia Murray collected two goals and three assists, including the game-winner in overtime, while Annie Lough added two tallies as Bishop Feehan edged Malden Catholic 5-4 in nonleague action.
    Kevin Barrucci, Boston Herald, 25 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Be gentle, and harvest with a slight twist, or snip them off.
    Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 13 Jan. 2026
  • In Europe, Norway’s Over Easy Solar and Germany’s Next2Sun and SOLYCO Solar provide a variety of vertical solar panels that harvest morning, evening and winter light.
    Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 13 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The question isn't whether AI capabilities will converge.
    Steven Wolfe Pereira, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
  • Protests continue Protesters continued to converge at the scene of the shooting despite dangerously cold weather.
    Jack Brook, Los Angeles Times, 24 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • At the core of this approach is a carbon shell derived from covalent organic frameworks (COFs).
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 12 Jan. 2026
  • Skinny Pedro’s obsession might therefore derive from some sort of insanity.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 12 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Central bank buying remains a cornerstone, with emerging market institutions, particularly in the East, continuing to accumulate reserves.
    Sean Lee, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
  • Across some of the most productive farmland in the United States, a nutrient called phosphorus has been accumulating in the soil for decades, at levels far beyond what crops actually require.
    Dinesh Phuyal, The Conversation, 26 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • These special moments have helped the monks’ walk gain traction on social media, where their Facebook following recently surpassed 1 million followers.
    Christina Shaw, FOXNews.com, 13 Jan. 2026
  • As the protests gained momentum, Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran’s last shah, began posting messages calling for a general uprising.
    Karl Vick, Time, 13 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • When summoned before a congressional committee in December, Noem struck a defiant tone.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 27 Jan. 2026
  • An esoteric tradition takes Solomon’s wisdom to be the Ars Goetia, ritual magic used to summon and bind demons.
    Hari Kunzru, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • At the same time, actually building the mechanism and assembling all the gears and pulleys is a little crash course in engineering and construction that's sure to get their own brain's cogs turning.
    Ian Stokes, Space.com, 28 Jan. 2026
  • Even so, when taken together with earlier studies, the results make a strong case that space itself can assemble key pieces of life’s chemistry long before Earth‑like environments come into play.
    William A. Haseltine, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Gather.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gather. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.

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