gathering

1 of 2

noun

gath·​er·​ing ˈga-t͟hə-riŋ 

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

: collection, compilation

4

: a gather in cloth

5

: a suppurating swelling : abscess

gathering

2 of 2

present participle of gather entry 1

Synonyms of gathering

Noun

• assembly
• meeting
• assemblage
• conference

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

Detectives believe the incident began with an argument between two women attending the gathering and escalated into an altercation between rival gang members, the police chief said. —Hannah Schoenbaum, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026

During the Cannes Film Festival, Goldfinch International and Fablemill will co-host a private gathering at the harbor convening senior figures from film commissions, government advisory bodies, fund managers, studios and technology founders across MENA, Southeast Asia, Africa and South Asia. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 6 May 2026

The gathering draws both local worshippers and members of the diaspora returning to their ancestral roots and has long been seen as a symbol of coexistence, attracting Muslim visitors alongside Jewish pilgrims. —ABC News, 6 May 2026

With a large number of participants under 7, the gatherings can be loud but fun and a great chance to connect. —Nancy Badertscher, AJC.com, 6 May 2026

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

Rhymes for gathering

• ingathering

Kids Definition

gathering

noun

1

: assembly sense 1, meeting

2

: a pus-filled swelling (as an abscess)

3

: the collecting of food and raw materials from the wild

4

: collection sense 2a

5

: a gather in cloth

Medical Definition

gathering

noun

gath·​er·​ing

: a suppurating swelling : abscess