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

At a July gathering in Washington, an Education Department official told advocates from about 22 states that there is still an Office of Educational Technology, according to Stacy Hawthorne, chair of the Consortium for School Networking. — Linda Jacobson, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026

Wan’s closed at the end of 2024, much to the consternation of customers who had come to rely on the kitchen for gatherings and takeout. — Miami Herald, 26 Aug. 2026

Masi Oka, Santiago Cabrera, Greg Grunberg, Sendhil Ramamurthy, Jack Coleman and Zachary Quinto (who joined via a video call) were among those present for the gathering. — Brenton Blanchet, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026

Rats were seen gathering on a terrace that’s used for commercial events, and their presence has caused Urban Zen to cancel or limit gatherings. — Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 25 Aug. 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