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

Americans in general did not want the government collecting unified, know-all records of every citizen. — Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026

Leaders should also consider how factoring may affect customer relationships, particularly when the factor takes an active role in collecting receivables. — Andrew Coon, Forbes.com, 20 Oct. 2026

Trust fund depletion would not mean Social Security stops collecting payroll taxes or paying benefits. — Fernanda Tronco, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026

Investigators were seen collecting shell casings and bullet fragments from the scene, and numerous evidence markers were set down. — Darius Johnson, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026

Then, in 1899, Fayet inherited the family estate and began collecting in earnest, acquiring his first Renoirs and Gauguins. — Julie Coe, Architectural Digest, 20 Oct. 2026

Not bad for a chunk of brass that's been collecting dust for 11 years, but here's the catch. — Jon Root Outkick, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2026

But no matter how monumental a piece is, for me, collecting has never been about keeping things locked up. — Riley Jones, Footwear News, 19 Oct. 2026

Even if Washington continues to lead the world in software, therefore, China may be able to rapidly gain ground on or even surpass the United States by deploying AI across the physical economy and collecting greater amounts of real-world data. — Scott Singer, Foreign Affairs, 12 Oct. 2026