cluster

verb

clustered; clustering ˈklə-st(ə-)riŋ 

transitive verb

1

: to collect into a cluster

cluster the tents together

2

: to furnish with clusters

The bridge was clustered with men and officers …

—Herman Wouk

intransitive verb

: to grow, assemble, or occur in a cluster

they clustered around the fire

Synonyms of cluster

• gather
• converge
• rendezvous
• meet
• assemble
• conglomerate
• convene
• congregate
• get together

Examples of cluster in a Sentence

The children clustered around the storyteller.

the mice clustered together into a small burrow

Recent Examples on the Web

The Fine Family Apiary in Monongahela said it was contacted on Wednesday about a swarm of bees clustered on the stage scaffolding. —Madeline Bartos, CBS News, 3 June 2026

Most existing and proposed projects are clustered around major metropolitan areas where fiber-optic networks, power infrastructure and workforce needs can be met. —Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 3 June 2026

At house parties, for instance, Nilsson would find the wives clustered in the kitchen while the men talked shop in another room. —Jeremy Lybarger, Artforum, 2 June 2026

The next-largest drawdowns were clustered around 30 million barrels, and that was 15 years ago. —Robert Rapier, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing cluster

• cluster analysis
• cluster bomb
• cluster headache
• globular cluster
• inter-cluster
• oak-leaf cluster
• sub-cluster

Rhymes for cluster

• bluster
• buster
• duster
• juster
• luster
• lustre
• maister
• muster
• thruster
• trustor
• adjuster
• baluster

Kids Definition

cluster

1 of 2 noun

clus·​ter ˈkləs-tər 

: a number of similar things growing, collected, or grouped together : bunch

a cluster of houses

a flower cluster

cluster

2 of 2 verb

clustered; clustering -t(ə-)riŋ 

: to grow, collect, or gather in a cluster

Medical Definition

cluster

noun

clus·​ter ˈkləs-tər 

: a larger than expected number of cases of disease (as leukemia) occurring in a particular locality, group of people, or period of time