1
as in containing
to gain emotional or mental control of
applicants should collect their thoughts while waiting to be interviewed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
4
as in assembling
to bring together in one body or place
she collects antique silverware
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of collecting
According to the complaint, Netflix logs billions of user interactions on its platform, collecting data that allegedly includes viewing habits, entertainment preferences, devices used, household networks, app usage patterns, and other behavioral information.
—
Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 11 May 2026
The Steve Jobs Archive — founded by his widow, Laurene Powell Jobs, in 2022 — later used the quote as the title of a free 2023 digital book collecting Jobs’ speeches, letters and reflections.
—Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 11 May 2026
Two separate Go Fund Me fundraisers organized by those who frequented Uncle Lou’s have started collecting donations for Williams’ immigration attorney.
—Natalia Jaramillo, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 May 2026
The Oklahoma City Thunder get a lottery pick in this draft because of the years and years and years that general manager Sam Presti spent collecting both good players and draft capital.
—Tim Reynolds, Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2026
Texas is suing streaming giant Netflix for allegedly spying on children and collecting users’ data without their knowledge or consent.
—Mateo Rosiles, USA Today, 11 May 2026
In South America, swapping stickers is even more important than simply collecting them, with WhatsApp groups, apps and websites popping up to facilitate the trades.
—ABC News, 10 May 2026
Severe to exceptional drought covered more than 80% of the region, the highest level in April since the monitor began collecting data in 2000.
—Rebecca Schneid, Time, 10 May 2026
The Timberwolves took advantage, collecting the loose ball and scoring a go-ahead layup.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 4 May 2026
Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 11 May 2026
The Steve Jobs Archive — founded by his widow, Laurene Powell Jobs, in 2022 — later used the quote as the title of a free 2023 digital book collecting Jobs’ speeches, letters and reflections.
—Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 11 May 2026
Two separate Go Fund Me fundraisers organized by those who frequented Uncle Lou’s have started collecting donations for Williams’ immigration attorney.
—Natalia Jaramillo, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 May 2026
The Oklahoma City Thunder get a lottery pick in this draft because of the years and years and years that general manager Sam Presti spent collecting both good players and draft capital.
—Tim Reynolds, Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2026
Texas is suing streaming giant Netflix for allegedly spying on children and collecting users’ data without their knowledge or consent.
—Mateo Rosiles, USA Today, 11 May 2026
In South America, swapping stickers is even more important than simply collecting them, with WhatsApp groups, apps and websites popping up to facilitate the trades.
—ABC News, 10 May 2026
Severe to exceptional drought covered more than 80% of the region, the highest level in April since the monitor began collecting data in 2000.
—Rebecca Schneid, Time, 10 May 2026
The Timberwolves took advantage, collecting the loose ball and scoring a go-ahead layup.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 4 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for collecting
Verb
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But the most common proxies, including tree rings, pollen and ice cores containing pockets of ancient air, have already been well studied.—
Hannah Richter,
Scientific American,
7 May 2026
-
Suitcases are discovered, containing plot devices.—
Robert Lloyd,
Boston Herald,
7 May 2026
Verb
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They'd be heralded not by rippling explosions or flash frozen corpses floating against a tapestry of stars, but instead by oxygen, almost imperceptibly slipping away or radiation slowly accumulating in our cells over years.—
Alan Bradley,
Space.com,
8 May 2026
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But the unpaid bills kept accumulating, and no new accounts were made.—
Verónica Egui Brito,
Miami Herald,
8 May 2026
Verb
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Importantly, during the pandemic, he was involved in compiling information from grant recipients and members of the expert community regarding the origins and nature of COVID-19.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
28 Apr. 2026
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The 15-member panel of experts in diplomacy, defense and economy will review security and defense policies in light of possible emergency scenarios, and also look at the defense budget and funding before compiling their recommendations for changes in the coming months.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Let the cake cool completely before assembling.—
Sarah Martens,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 May 2026
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Back in the 1960s, when the chain was new, assembling your own salad was an eyebrow-raising innovation.—
Robert F. Moss,
Southern Living,
10 May 2026
Verb
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Climbers began gathering in April at the base camp, which is at an altitude of 17,340 feet.—
Pasang Rinzee Sherpa,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
-
Among the military hardware was an Iranian Air Force RC-130, a reconnaissance and intelligence-gathering variant of the Lockheed C-130 Hercules tactical transport aircraft.—
James LaPorta,
CBS News,
11 May 2026
Verb
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Brothers Daniel and Adrián Aguirre love nothing more than making music together, composing melodies and writing powerful lyrics.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 May 2026
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The songs are by composing legend Mike Stoller, now 93, and a master tunesmith during the era in which much of the story spans.—
Frank Rizzo,
Variety,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Leung has been a fixture of Chinese-language cinema for more than four decades, amassing upward of 100 screen credits and working with some of the most distinguished directors in world cinema, among them Wong Kar-wai, Zhang Yimou, Ang Lee, John Woo, Hou Hsiao-hsien, Tran Anh Hung and Ildikó Enyedi.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
28 Apr. 2026
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Fred Tibbetts coached high school girls’ basketball for almost three decades, amassing more than 500 wins, including a 111-game winning streak and seven undefeated championship seasons.—
Annie Costabile,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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More than 50 countries, including oil producers and major consumers, are converging in Colombia for a fossil-fuel exit conference.—
Fabiano Maisonnave,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2026
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Central Richmond gangs tend to congregate around Richmond’s Iron Triangle, an area near Carlson Boulevard that gets its name because of converging railroad tracks that form a triangular shape.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Collecting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/collecting. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
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