gathered; gathering
ˈga-t͟hə-riŋ 
ˈgat͟h-
1
: to bring together : collect
tried to gather a crowd
gathered firewood
2
3
: to serve as an attraction for : accumulate
books gathering dust
4
: to effect the collection of
gather contributions
5
a
: to summon up
gathered his courage
b
: to gain by gradual increase
gather speed
c
: to prepare (oneself) by mustering strength
d
: to gain or regain control of
gathered his wits
6
: to reach a conclusion often intuitively from hints or through inferences
I gather that you want to leave
7
a
: to pull (fabric) along a line of stitching so as to draw into puckers
b
: to draw about or close to something
gathering her cloak about her
c
: to bring together the parts of
gathered her hair into a ponytail
d
: to assemble (the signatures of a book) in sequence for binding
e
: to haul in
the sailors gathered the sails
1
a
: to come together in a body
b
: to cluster around a focus of attraction
1
: something brought together: such as
a
: a puckering in cloth made by gathering (see gather entry 1 sense 7a)
b
: a mass of molten glass collected for use in glassblowing
2
: an act or instance of bringing together
Synonyms
Examples of gather in a Sentence
Verb
Give me just a minute to gather my things and then we can leave.
The coach gathered her players together.
She gathered her hair into a ponytail.
The child was gathering flowers to give to his mother.
The police are continuing to gather evidence relating to the crime.
Volunteers have been gathering contributions for the new library.
A crowd began to gather on the sidewalk.
The players gathered together to hear the coach's game plan.
The bicyclists gathered speed as they went downhill.
Recent Examples on the Web
William Harwood, CBS News, 15 Apr. 2024
In other cases, the challenges are motivated by the slim margin for error candidates left when gathering voter signatures on their nomination petitions.
—Mary Jo Pitzl, The Arizona Republic, 16 Apr. 2024
Bass told an audience gathered at City Hall on Monday evening that her administration has already made crucial strides in the fight against homelessness, in part by working more closely with county, state and federal agencies.
—Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2024
After Johnson's speech, council members gathered with their families as live music played and supporters watched from the gallery.
—Alison Dirr, Journal Sentinel, 16 Apr. 2024
Last week, Zelensky dispatched his top diplomat, Dmytro Kuleba, to Brussels, where NATO foreign ministers gathered to commemorate the military alliance’s 75th anniversary.
—John Hudson, Washington Post, 15 Apr. 2024
Several hundred demonstrators gathered outside the parliament building ahead of a mass protest that civil society organizations have called for Monday evening.
—Reuters, CNN, 15 Apr. 2024
About 50 people gathered outside the entrance to the plant on Monday morning to protest nuclear weapons and the decision to expand the site.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 15 Apr. 2024
The park — one of the first dedicated in San Diego — has been a vital resource and gathering place for the primarily Black community since the 1960s, hosting car shows, family picnics, youth sports leagues and more.
—Emily Alvarenga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2024
Max Foster, CNN, 31 Mar. 2024
Outside, a crowd of damp customers waiting their turn gathers near the door at the City West Commons spot — undaunted by the afternoon rain.
—Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 29 Mar. 2024
Traditionally, the royal family gathers at Windsor Castle on Easter Sunday and takes a short walk to St. George’s Chapel for a church service, where crowds gather to greet them.
—Conor Murray, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
Yet even as efforts to shut down the facility gather strength, some officials and environmental advocates are skeptical such a move will help.
—Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2024
Friends old and new gather for an epic battle to save Central City one last time.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 17 May 2023
As a stellium of planets gathers in your fouth house of home and lineage this month, the desire to know your past intensifies, and the dynamics between your family members or housemates becomes extra charged.
—Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Jan. 2024
See All of Kate Middleton's Holiday Looks Through the Years
Each year at Christmas, the British royal family gathers at Sandringham.
—Stephanie Petit, Peoplemag, 25 Dec. 2023
Photographer: Joe Raedle/Getty Images Each Sunday morning, the congregation of the International Deliverance Praying Ministry gathers in front of their church, ready to be let in.
—Joel Khalili, WIRED, 30 Oct. 2023
Verb
As originally envisioned, the Mars Sample Return mission, or MSR, is the most complex robotic planetary science mission ever attempted, one requiring a new NASA lander to bring a rocket to the surface capable of launching soil and rock samples gathered by another rover already on the red planet.
—William Harwood, CBS News, 15 Apr. 2024
In other cases, the challenges are motivated by the slim margin for error candidates left when gathering voter signatures on their nomination petitions.
—Mary Jo Pitzl, The Arizona Republic, 16 Apr. 2024
Bass told an audience gathered at City Hall on Monday evening that her administration has already made crucial strides in the fight against homelessness, in part by working more closely with county, state and federal agencies.
—Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2024
After Johnson's speech, council members gathered with their families as live music played and supporters watched from the gallery.
—Alison Dirr, Journal Sentinel, 16 Apr. 2024
Last week, Zelensky dispatched his top diplomat, Dmytro Kuleba, to Brussels, where NATO foreign ministers gathered to commemorate the military alliance’s 75th anniversary.
—John Hudson, Washington Post, 15 Apr. 2024
Several hundred demonstrators gathered outside the parliament building ahead of a mass protest that civil society organizations have called for Monday evening.
—Reuters, CNN, 15 Apr. 2024
About 50 people gathered outside the entrance to the plant on Monday morning to protest nuclear weapons and the decision to expand the site.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 15 Apr. 2024
The park — one of the first dedicated in San Diego — has been a vital resource and gathering place for the primarily Black community since the 1960s, hosting car shows, family picnics, youth sports leagues and more.
—Emily Alvarenga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2024
Noun
Typically, the extended royal family gathers for Easter at Windsor Castle before heading to church together.
—Max Foster, CNN, 31 Mar. 2024
Outside, a crowd of damp customers waiting their turn gathers near the door at the City West Commons spot — undaunted by the afternoon rain.
—Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 29 Mar. 2024
Traditionally, the royal family gathers at Windsor Castle on Easter Sunday and takes a short walk to St. George’s Chapel for a church service, where crowds gather to greet them.
—Conor Murray, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
Yet even as efforts to shut down the facility gather strength, some officials and environmental advocates are skeptical such a move will help.
—Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2024
Friends old and new gather for an epic battle to save Central City one last time.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 17 May 2023
As a stellium of planets gathers in your fouth house of home and lineage this month, the desire to know your past intensifies, and the dynamics between your family members or housemates becomes extra charged.
—Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Jan. 2024
See All of Kate Middleton's Holiday Looks Through the Years
Each year at Christmas, the British royal family gathers at Sandringham.
—Stephanie Petit, Peoplemag, 25 Dec. 2023
Photographer: Joe Raedle/Getty Images Each Sunday morning, the congregation of the International Deliverance Praying Ministry gathers in front of their church, ready to be let in.
—Joel Khalili, WIRED, 30 Oct. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'gather.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near gather
Cite this Entry
“Gather.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gather. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
gather
1 of 2 verb
gath·er
ˈgat͟h-ər
also ˈget͟h-
gathered; gathering
ˈgat͟h-(ə-)riŋ
1
: to bring together : collect
3
: to gain by gradual increase
gather speed
4
: to prepare (as oneself) by calling on strength
gather courage to dive
5
: to draw about or close to something
6
: to pull (cloth) along a line of stitching so as to draw into puckers
7
8
: to come together in a body or around a center of attraction
a crowd gathered round
9
: increase entry 1, grow
a storm gathered outside
gather
2 of 2 noun
: the result of gathering cloth : pucker
Medical Definition
gather
intransitive verb
gath·er
ˈgat͟h-ər, ˈget͟h-
gathered; gathering
-(ə-)riŋ
: to swell and fill with pus
the boil is gathering
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