collects 1 of 2

present tense third-person singular of collect
1
as in contains
to gain emotional or mental control of applicants should collect their thoughts while waiting to be interviewed

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
as in compiles
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

collects

2 of 2

noun

plural of collect

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 collects
Verb
Solove argued that even with shorter retention periods and internal auditing requirements, the underlying system still collects information on large numbers of people who are not suspected of crimes. Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026 As the drone flies, its camera collects images of the terrain below. Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 20 Aug. 2026 The firm still owns the building and collects rent of about $75,000 a month, according to Catholic Charities CEO Vino Pajanor. Trevor Morgan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Aug. 2026 Flock manages and collects rent on those properties, handling about half itself and using property managers for the others. Max Scheinblum, Denver Post, 19 Aug. 2026 The Google Health app (which replaces the Fitbit app) holds the wellness data your watch collects. Andrew Gebhart, PC Magazine, 19 Aug. 2026 Once a vendor collects customer information, the issue extends beyond messaging into privacy, security, compliance and trust. Emily Burroughs, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026 The difference between our naked eyes and a telescope is that a telescope collects far more light than our eyes, enabling it to capture much smaller and fainter objects. Elijah Tan, Encyclopedia Britannica, 18 Aug. 2026 Some American Standard models also include a series of openings in the rim that create a power flush, rinsing away material that often collects under the rim over time. Bestreviews, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for collects
Verb
  • Each contains a proprietary ingredient combination named VitaMega Complex, consisting of vitamin-C rich Kakadu plum, inositol to strengthen the hair fiber, and sacha inchi, an omega-dense oil that nourishes hair.
    Jenny B. Fine, Footwear News, 25 Aug. 2026
  • This pick from Dagne Dover pretty much checks every box—it is made from thick neoprene material that stands up on its own, contains multiple pockets for storage, and has a removable mesh pouch.
    Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 24 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • As the back-and-forth accumulates, the credibility of Justice Department lawyers is facing scrutiny.
    Bart Jansen, USA Today, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Taxes, student loans, housing, living expenses and other costs can dramatically reduce the amount someone actually accumulates.
    Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The editor then compiles the footage to be ready for the audience to watch the next day to record their reactions.
    Leila Jordan, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The Shel Talmy Recordings compiles songs the titular producer, known for his work with the Who and the Kinks, made with the late singer in 1965, when Bowie was still going by Davie Jones.
    Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 15 July 2026
Verb
  • The Progress Center assembles the workhorse vehicle for Russia, the Soyuz-2 vehicle, as well as the newer Soyuz-5 rocket.
    Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Scott Winans, center, of Palisade Cycle & Shuttle and the Colorado Plateau Mountain Bike Trail Association, supports a beam as a small crew assembles the first parts of a memorial shelter on the Palisade Plunge cycling trail in November 2025.
    Logan Smith, CBS News, 9 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Save as a collection on MyRecipes When the family gathers to enjoy a day of watching football games, everyone can agree on the importance of the game day menu.
    Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Answer one real customer question with original data, a practical framework or a transparent case study, then share it where that audience already gathers.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Their selective invocations of Washington may have obscured his complicity, but some abolitionists truly believed doing so would help bring the horror of American slavery to an end.
    John Garrison Marks, The Atlantic, 25 July 2026
  • Why the invocations of Tubman, the readings of Du Bois, the visits from Hamer?
    Ta-Nehisi Coates, Vanity Fair, 15 June 2026
Verb
  • The man composes his responses with the help of a manual that instructs him on which incoming string of Chinese characters should be answered with which other string of Chinese characters.
    Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Agent authority composes dynamically.
    Harsh Singhal, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
Verb
  • Kang amasses writings from over the course of her career, beginning with her Nobel lecture and reaching deep into her life’s documents, with diaries, poems, and photographs.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 4 May 2026
  • The Texas native collects coveted roles and franchise parts like Thanos amasses Infinity Stones or Tom Hanks stockpiles vintage typewriters.
    Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 7 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Collects.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/collects. Accessed 27 Aug. 2026.

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