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

Over a thousand people were in attendance for the event marking the first night of Hanukkah when two gunman opened fire on the gathering outside Bondi Beach, a beach outside of Sydney. —Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 14 Dec. 2025

In 1989, the public came out to mourn the death of a reformist leader, Hu Yaobang; these gatherings evolved into the Tiananmen Square protest, which China brutally crushed. —Timothy McLaughlin, The Atlantic, 13 Dec. 2025

Russo said that anyone wondering about their family health history should take advantage of holiday gatherings to check in with relatives. —Kerry Breen, CBS News, 13 Dec. 2025

Chloe Bailey went for a monochrome black ensemble to attend multidisciplinary artist Hannah Polskin’s Holiday Season studio gathering on Thursday in Los Angeles. —Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 12 Dec. 2025

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