Synonyms of collecting

collecting

verb

present participle of collect

1

as in containing

to gain emotional or mental control of

applicants should collect their thoughts while waiting to be interviewed

Synonyms & Similar Words

• containing
• composing
• calming
• controlling
• restraining
• re-collecting
• settling
• recovering
• holding back
• rallying
• soothing
• stilling
• tranquilizing
• lulling
• quieting

2

as in accumulating

to gradually form into a layer, pile, or mass

dust has been collecting under my bed for years

Synonyms & Similar Words

• accumulating
• gathering
• amassing
• concentrating
• accreting
• piling (up)
• massing
• stacking (up)
• conglomerating
• building up
• drifting
• lumping
• clumping
• agglutinating
• banking
• ridging

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• scattering
• dispersing
• dissipating

3

as in compiling

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• compiling
• anthologizing
• assembling
• gathering
• editing
• accumulating
• revising
• amassing
• collating
• grouping
• reworking
• redrafting
• revamping
• redacting
• reediting
• recompiling

4

as in assembling

to bring together in one body or place

she collects antique silverware

Synonyms & Similar Words

• assembling
• gathering
• amassing
• accumulating
• corralling
• grouping
• garnering
• combining
• packing
• joining
• concentrating
• lumping
• congregating
• organizing
• getting together
• piling
• stacking
• arranging
• compiling
• rounding up
• bulking (up)
• constellating
• uniting
• raising
• connecting
• mustering
• picking up
• merging
• collating
• rallying
• linking
• pooling
• balling
• clustering
• huddling
• batching
• swarming
• bunching
• banding
• herding
• flocking
• heaping
• systematizing
• archiving
• regrouping
• pressing
• hiving
• thronging
• brigading
• re-collecting
• scraping (up or together)
• regathering

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dispersing
• scattering
• separating
• dissipating
• sending
• dissolving
• disintegrating
• dispelling
• splitting (up)
• severing
• dismissing
• breaking up
• disbanding

5

as in gathering

to come together into one body or place

a crowd collected at the beach as the sun slowly set over the horizon

Synonyms & Similar Words

• gathering
• assembling
• converging
• meeting
• convening
• joining
• rendezvousing
• concentrating
• congregating
• clustering
• merging
• getting together
• cooperating
• conglomerating
• consolidating
• collaborating
• forgathering
• concentering
• affiliating
• coupling
• uniting
• associating
• clubbing
• allying
• reassembling
• consorting
• federating
• banding (together)
• conjoining
• ganging up
• confederating
• caucusing
• reconvening
• remeeting
• regathering

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dispersing
• leaving
• splitting (up)
• disbanding
• breaking up
• departing
• taking off
• dissociating
• disjoining
• disuniting

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of collecting

Investigators have been scouring the area for wreckage, collecting dashcam video and speaking to witnesses. — Josh Funk, Chicago Tribune, 3 Nov. 2026

Investigators on Tuesday were mainly focused on collecting and documenting wreckage, Chapman said. — Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 3 Nov. 2026

Each county is responsible for collecting and counting ballots on election night and in the following weeks. — Data, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2026

That year, the British A&R man Neil Rushton began collecting tracks from Detroit artists to spotlight the Motor City’s new dance music — a compilation to be titled The House Sound of Detroit. — Michaelangelo Matos, Rolling Stone, 2 Nov. 2026

Area businesses are collecting donations and raising money for both the families and businesses left to pick up the pieces. — Marissa Perlman, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026

Up to four players could take part in one of two modes here - Deathmatch and Bounty Mode, which had players compete against one another by collecting coins to win matches. — Daryl Baxter, Space.com, 1 Nov. 2026

Jurors also convicted her of grand theft for collecting her children’s Social Security benefits. — Leigh Egan, FOXNews.com, 1 Nov. 2026

The Hawks are 2-2 through four games, collecting a pair of division wins before losing consecutive games to the Rockets, who’ve remained a difficult matchup over the past three years. — Gabriel Burns, AJC.com, 27 Oct. 2026