collecting

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

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2
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

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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 collecting But the Chiefs didn’t pick up a first down on either one, collecting 15 yards worth of penalties on the second one to seal the loss. Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 11 Oct. 2025 Guard members have also been tasked with beautification efforts, like collecting trash, spreading mulch and painting fences. Juliana Kim, NPR, 10 Oct. 2025 Part of Target’s circular approach is collecting unwanted denim. Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 10 Oct. 2025 Another diagnostic option involves measuring amyloid beta and certain modified forms of tau in the cerebrospinal fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord, but collecting this fluid requires a lumbar puncture, which many people find too invasive. Robert Martone, Scientific American, 10 Oct. 2025 The indictment said that after collecting payment, Dryden then paid a teen in Indonesia to carry out the torture and abuse on camera. Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 10 Oct. 2025 One older woman, sparkling in a long gown, worked the carpet before collecting her cane and a Neiman’s shopping bag from a handler. Leigh Nordstrom, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2025 Even if nothing obvious happens right away, attackers could still be collecting background information to use in a future attack. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 9 Oct. 2025 Police learned that for at least a decade, Ed had been collecting human body parts and using them to fashion furniture, masks and even clothing around his home. Yasmeen Hamadeh, PEOPLE, 5 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for collecting
Verb
  • By comparing two types of borosilicate glass, one containing magnesium and one without, the team discovered that the diffusion of boron atoms depends strongly on the glass composition and the time it has been exposed to water.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2025
  • And then the English joined in, claiming that Joseph of Arimathea brought the holy grail containing the blood and sweat of the crucified Christ to Glastonbury.
    JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 16 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Scientists continued the effort, eventually accumulating data from upward of 7,000 healthy individuals.
    Carrie Arnold, Scientific American, 14 Oct. 2025
  • Outer lanes are more prone to accumulating water.
    Southern California Weather Report, Oc Register, 14 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Luminate, the independent data provider to the Billboard charts, completes a thorough review of all data submissions used in compiling the weekly chart rankings.
    Gary Trust, Billboard, 13 Oct. 2025
  • The 53-year-old Franklin had been with Penn State since 2014, compiling a 104-45 record with five bowl wins and an appearance in the 2025 College Football Playoff, where PSU knocked off both Boise State and SMU before falling to Notre Dame in the CFP semifinal round.
    Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • But Apple has also faced challenges in its early experiments manufacturing in the country, most notably at a Wistron factory in Bengaluru assembling older model iPhones, which saw a labor riot in late 2020.
    Anniek Bao, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2025
  • Another phenomenon at play, though, is an adjustment in how teams are assembling themselves, especially given that three preseason top-3 squads since 2022 have ultimately fallen to unranked at some point in the season.
    Noah White, Miami Herald, 14 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • There was food, laughter and the kind of joy that comes from gathering around a baby.
    Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 14 Oct. 2025
  • While gathering evidence to help determine the cause of an explosion or fire, ATF specialists are trained not to rush in drawing conclusions, Robin said.
    Rebekah Riess, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • For Ares, Nine Inch Nails will be composing the soundtrack, bringing their iconic industrial rock sound to the Grid.
    Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 2025
  • The difference is that composing while in motion may be a particularly useful way to address a crisis in creativity.
    Karen Palmer September 19, Literary Hub, 19 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Dooley, while amassing a record that would get him into the College Football Hall of Fame, still had a losing record against his alma mater (11-13-1).
    Seth Emerson, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
  • Sharpe first came to attention of football fans when an interview for the Daily Mail Sports Instagram channel went viral ahead of the European Championship final, amassing over 80 million views in total.
    Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 2 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • But the Russian leader hasn’t shown any interest in meeting with Zelenskyy and Moscow has only intensified its bombardment of Ukraine.
    Chris Megerian, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2025
  • Consider meeting with a dietitian for support.
    Carrie Madormo, Health, 18 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Collecting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/collecting. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.

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