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
The person advertising the dumpster collects money through a payment app and appears to be the provider. — Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2026 The equipment was partially funded by developer fees, which the county collects from new developments. — Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 22 Oct. 2026 Why washable sofa covers matter for pet owners A sofa that doubles as a dog bed collects fur, drool and the occasional accident. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Oct. 2026 The dashboard collects information on energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, water use, waste management, workforce demographics and renewable-energy installations. — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 21 Oct. 2026 The researchers’ bigger concern is what happens after the state collects it. — Bilin Lin, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026 If your organization regularly collects cash at events or fundraisers, Truist Community Checking may be a good fit. — Andreina Rodriguez, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2026 Andrews, who collects vintage sports and Pokémon cards, told the AP in a phone interview that he was not affected by the theft but has heard from at least two dozen people who were. — ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026 One of the largest donors to a pop-up super PAC supporting Muslim or pro-Palestinian candidates is the president of an Islamic organization that collects obligatory religious donations mandated by Sharia law. — Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 14 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for collects
Verb
  • If the brain’s primary goal is to reduce prediction error, this way of being contains a trap.
    — Maia Szalavitz, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
  • The origin story of Silicon Valley contains two contradictions.
    — Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The descent into crisis-club territory usually happens by degrees, a malaise that accumulates slowly as one poor performance follows another.
    — Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2026
  • This creates a point in the circular segment where tension accumulates, which in turn leads to the formation of a pointed edge.
    — Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 13 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The video posted by @LiviesHQ compiles drafts of drawings, recordings of 3D animations, and more.
    — Jaeden Pinder, Rolling Stone, 19 Oct. 2026
  • This independent organization compiles lists of needs for developing communities (think school supplies or clothing), and guests can bring these items from home to give to those in need.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Simpler battery packs lower costs The company buys battery cells and assembles its own packs rather than manufacturing the cells themselves.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2026
  • His team then assembles mood boards using references from films, music videos and other media before developing sketches and finalizing designs.
    — Tanya Fedak, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • An agent that gathers records or checks for required information may operate with limited intervention.
    — Heather Bassett, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026
  • When a storm, usually fed by unusually warm water, suddenly gathers a lot of strength, sustaining winds that increase in speed by at least 35 mph (56 kph) in 24 hours, it is called rapid intensification.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 9 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Bailey, a downstate farmer seeking to reverse his loss to Pritzker four years ago, sought to turn the governor’s frequent invocations of Trump into a game.
    — Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Throughout, Lee’s invocations imbue his subjects with an air of divinity.
    — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 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
  • Speakers noted the Republican nominee's oil and gas investments as the energy sector amasses profits while the Iran war drives up fuel costs.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 17 Sep. 2026
  • 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

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Cite this Entry

“Collects.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/collects. Accessed 23 Oct. 2026.

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