collect 1 of 2

1
as in to contain
to gain emotional or mental control of applicants should collect their thoughts while waiting to be interviewed

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2
as in to accumulate
to gradually form into a layer, pile, or mass dust has been collecting under my bed for years

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
as in to compile
to bring together from several sources into a single volume or list collected the author's early short stories, which were originally published in several obscure sci-fi magazines

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4
5

collect

2 of 2

noun

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb collect differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of collect are assemble, congregate, and gather. While all these words mean "to come or bring together into a group, mass, or unit," collect often implies careful selection or orderly arrangement.

collected books on gardening

When can assemble be used instead of collect?

The synonyms assemble and collect are sometimes interchangeable, but assemble implies an ordered union or organization of persons or things often for a definite purpose.

experts assembled for a conference

Where would congregate be a reasonable alternative to collect?

In some situations, the words congregate and collect are roughly equivalent. However, congregate implies a spontaneous flocking together into a crowd or huddle.

congregating under a shelter

When might gather be a better fit than collect?

Although the words gather and collect have much in common, gather is the most general term for bringing or coming together from a spread-out or scattered state.

a crowd quickly gathered

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of collect
Verb
Make your yard less appealing by not letting stagnant water collect. Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 17 Apr. 2025 There are licensed versions of IPs like Star Trek and Game Of Thrones that are sought after by collects and fans of those series. Rob Wieland, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025
Noun
The purpose of the road trip is to provide local manufacturers with information on government resources and collect feedback from various industry workers. Cooper Gant, Arkansas Online, 26 June 2025 Create rules for parameter data collected that indicate impending faults or failures. Ed Garibian, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for collect
Recent Examples of Synonyms for collect
Verb
  • As of Monday evening, the fire crew effectively contained 65% of the wildfire.
    CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2025
  • For reference, a cigarette typically contains 10 to 15 mg of nicotine.
    Erica Sloan, SELF, 1 July 2025
Verb
  • Since founding his hugely successful e-commerce company Amazon in 1994, Jeff Bezos has accumulated a net worth that warrants his title as the third richest man on the planet.
    Diane J. Cho, People.com, 28 June 2025
  • Dryer vents tend to gradually accumulate hair, dust, and lint during normal operation.
    Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 June 2025
Verb
  • In March, Miami-Dade County commissioners delayed choosing a site for an incinerator and approved compiling a report on a range of options for trash disposal, including zero-waste initiatives and landfilling.
    Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 27 June 2025
  • Before the attacks, Boelter compiled a list of mostly Democratic state lawmakers and their addresses, disguised his SUV to look like a police squad car, and purchased a silicone mask and a cache of weapons, according to the affidavit.
    N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 27 June 2025
Verb
  • Pam’s family and friends gathered in the courthouse in Broomfield, Colorado, just outside Boulder in April of 2019.
    Laura Trujillo, USA Today, 27 June 2025
  • However, runoff from these earlier heavy rain will gather in streams and other low-lying areas and is expected to prompt flash flooding.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 27 June 2025
Verb
  • The project sits near Hialeah, where Florida’s Turnpike meets Interstate 75.
    Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 1 July 2025
  • Deeper collaboration between military planners, drone manufacturers and battery developers to ensure new technologies meet operational needs.
    Siyu Huang, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
Noun
  • The ceremony opened with an invocation and prayer by Alan Clark, chaplain of Laguna Woods American Legion Post 257, honoring the more than 1 million military fatalities since the Revolutionary War in 1775.
    Anita Gosch, Oc Register, 1 June 2025
  • Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools has no prayer, invocation or moment of silence at the start of school board meetings.
    Nora O’Neill, Charlotte Observer, 22 May 2025
Verb
  • Sapphire is a variety of the mineral corundum, which is composed almost entirely of aluminum oxide.
    David Bressan, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
  • Made shoppable this March, it’s composed of one of Vans’ thinnest soles to date, with a design that takes cues from the Serio Style 84.
    Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 25 June 2025
Verb
  • Analysts say it is used to develop and assemble centrifuges for uranium enrichment, a key technology that turns uranium into nuclear fuel.
    Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 21 June 2025
  • At the head of assembling these dream weekends of music is CEO Sarah Pancheri, who took over that role in 2024.
    Steve Baltin, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Collect.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/collect. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.

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