gathering

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noun gath·er·ing \ ˈgat͟h-riŋ , ˈga-t͟hə- \

Definition of gathering

1 :assembly, meeting

2 :a suppurating swelling :abscess

3 :the collecting of food or raw materials from the wild

4 :collection, compilation

5 :a gather in cloth

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Examples of gathering in a Sentence

I see my cousins only at occasional family gatherings.
dinner parties and other social gatherings
a gathering of political leaders

Recent Examples of gathering from the Web

Kramer's had a sale on Sara Lee Pound Cake for $2.59, and the train station seemed to be a popular gathering spot for youth.

— sara clarkson, chicagotribune.com, "Clarkson: Dog catcher was to be option for growling Hinsdale in 1942," 30 Aug. 2017
Jazz Jambalaya, the monthly gathering of the Mystic Order of the Jazz Obsessed, will be held at the Ben May Main Library’s Bernhaim Hall to salute the soulful stylings of the inimitable Ray Charles.

— michelle matthews | mmatthews@al.com, AL.com, "Things to do in Mobile, Aug. 27-Sept. 2," 27 Aug. 2017
CENTRAL BANK WATCH: Investors looked ahead to this week’s annual gathering of central bankers and economists in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

— joe mcdonald, The Seattle Times, "Asian stocks mixed after Wall Street gains," 21 Aug. 2017
In the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola’s last campaign gathering ahead of the Aug. 23 vote, Lourenco predicted the MPLA would win with a two-thirds majority, in line with recent polling.

— henrique almeida, Bloomberg.com, "Angola's Lourenco Rallies Voters; Opponents Threaten Protest," 19 Aug. 2017
What type of gathering would draw this much scrutiny and opposition?

— matt giles, Longreads, "A Look Back at the 1939 Pro-Nazi Rally at Madison Square Garden and the Protestors Who Organized Against It," 13 Aug. 2017
For my own part, my family has been invited to an eclipse gathering at the farm of family friends in Tennessee.

— jay ryan, The Atlantic, "The Blue-Collar Eclipse," 11 Aug. 2017
A meet and greet gathering will be at 6 p.m. Aug. 22 at Arthur Murray Dance Studio, 15131 S. LaGrange Road, Orland Park.

— laura hinderman, Daily Southtown, "Welcome back to back-to-school season," 8 Aug. 2017
A ring of suits surrounded Fazal in a gathering at West Hollywood’s Boa Steakhouse Tuesday night, as agents peppered the actor with questions about his lengthy audition process for Frears.

— rebecca keegan, HWD, "The Bollywood Import Charming L.A.," 2 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'gathering.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of gathering

Middle English gaderyng, gederunge, going back to Old English gadrung, gædrung, gegaderung, gegadrung "joining, union, assembly," from gadrian, gaderian "to join, unite, ¹gather" + -ung ³-ing

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

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