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

Noun

• assemblage
• assembly
• conference
• congregation
• convocation
• ingathering
• meeting
• muster

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

It’s framed as a gathering around a campfire, being intoxicated by the heat … a campfire beckons storytelling. —Juan A. Ramírez, New York Times, 18 Apr. 2024

Get The Recipe 18 of 40 Classic Deviled Eggs Deviled eggs are practically a requirement at Southern gatherings in the spring. —Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 18 Apr. 2024

Two years ago, organizers had proposed making the July 26 opening festivities accessible to as many as 600,000 people, a grand gathering that would span 6 kilometers (roughly 3.7 miles), stretching from the east of Paris to the Trocadéro. —Daniel Arkin, NBC News, 17 Apr. 2024

The program’s critics, meanwhile, say relying on the FBI to internally police itself is a mistake, pointing to decades of surveillance abuses and political intelligence gathering carried out in clear violation of US law. —Dell Cameron, WIRED, 16 Apr. 2024

Political tensions run high at community gatherings, where an errant sentiment can prompt whole families to walk out in disgust. —Inkoo Kang, The New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2024

The park was an important gathering place during decades of segregation when blacks were not welcome in other areas, generally north of Van Buren Street, and forced to attend segregated schools. —The Arizona Republic, 14 Apr. 2024

Places of gathering, places of protest, places of teach-ins, and places of education have felt communal and heart-lifting. —Zahra Hankir, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Apr. 2024

In addition to first aid, this gathering of the Zimbabwe guides will include refresher courses in shooting, tracking, stargazing, photography, and more. —Jesse Ashlock, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Apr. 2024

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

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