Definition of gathernext
1
2
as in to harvest
to catch or collect (a crop or natural resource) for human use late summer is when we gather the tomatoes and begin canning them for the winter

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
4
5
as in to accumulate
to gradually form into a layer, pile, or mass the newspapers that had been allowed to gather on the front doorstep told thieves that the family was away on vacation

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

6
7
as in to summon
to call into being through the use of one's inner resources or powers gathered the strength to finish the marathon

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb gather differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of gather are assemble, collect, and congregate. While all these words mean "to come or bring together into a group, mass, or unit," gather is the most general term for bringing or coming together from a spread-out or scattered state.

a crowd quickly gathered

Where would assemble be a reasonable alternative to gather?

Although the words assemble and gather have much in common, assemble implies an ordered union or organization of persons or things often for a definite purpose.

experts assembled for a conference

When is collect a more appropriate choice than gather?

The words collect and gather can be used in similar contexts, but collect often implies careful selection or orderly arrangement.

collected books on gardening

When could congregate be used to replace gather?

In some situations, the words congregate and gather are roughly equivalent. However, congregate implies a spontaneous flocking together into a crowd or huddle.

congregating under a shelter

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 gather The first would include 65,000 square-feet of retail space, more than 600 units of housing and 30,000 square feet of gathering space. Sofi Zeman, Kansas City Star, 4 June 2026 For city planners and residents, the first order of business in the early 2000s was to shift the highway traffic to the west and transform First Street into a pedestrian-friendly, two-lane street with wide enough sidewalks to accommodate outdoor dining and landscaped spaces where people can gather. Martha Ross, Mercury News, 4 June 2026 Locals typically gather around food stands on tiny plastic stools to eat — a cluster of people doing exactly that is a strong sign the stall’s food is both delicious and safe. Lauren Schuster, Charlotte Observer, 4 June 2026 On December 11, the Indiana State Senate gathered to vote on the redistricting bill. Hanna Rosin, The Atlantic, 4 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for gather
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gather
Verb
  • Mission Viejo right fielder Riley Campbell collected her third hit in the seventh to bring the tying run to the plate but Herrera escaped another jam to spark a celebratory dogpile.
    Dan Albano, Oc Register, 31 May 2026
  • In total, the campaign collected a total of 7,500 legitimate signatures, 2,500 short of the state requirement.
    Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 31 May 2026
Verb
  • An edible garden by landscape designer Lily Kwong offers overseas travelers an introduction to local plants, like the butterfly pea flower, which is commonly used in Peranakan cuisine, and fragrant pandan, which is harvested for use in some of the hotel’s food and drinks.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 June 2026
  • Global spending on agentic AI is growing exponentially, and the low-hanging use cases are largely harvested by now.
    Alexander Puutio, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
Verb
  • Past, present, and future versions of the South Park figures—childhood’s tokens, mined and mined again—are made to converge around adulthood’s most representative, most depressing reality.
    Theo Belci, Artforum, 2 June 2026
  • In May, tennis fans in Panama hats converge on Roland Garros Stadium for the French Open.
    Mary Winston Nicklin, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 June 2026
Verb
  • There is very little thought about how that app forecast is made, what it is derived from, and so on.
    Marshall Shepherd, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
  • Plus, this serum is naturally-derived and a safe choice for those with sensitive skin.
    Rosa Jisoo Pyo, Vogue, 31 May 2026
Verb
  • Understanding how those filaments emerge is key to understanding how gas accumulates and ultimately collapses into new stars.
    Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 1 June 2026
  • Rainwater tends to accumulate at the road edges.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 1 June 2026
Verb
  • Hard-right candidate Abelardo de la Espriella emerged as the unlikely vote leader on Sunday, gaining some 44% of votes and beating the pollsters’ favorite, leftist Senator Ivan Cepeda, who received just under 41% of votes.
    Alfie Pannell, Miami Herald, 31 May 2026
  • The organization said scientific knowledge did not confirm that hormone therapy could fully eliminate the advantages gained from male puberty.
    Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 31 May 2026
Verb
  • The distance between your villa and dinner or your villa and the spa, however, can be long–but your butler can summon a golf cart to make getting around much easier.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
  • Five others escaped the cave’s narrow tunnels after rescue efforts by international experts summoned to the perilous cave in central Laos.
    Kocha Olarn, CNN Money, 1 June 2026
Verb
  • North Korea already has enough nuclear material for up to 90 warheads and is believed to have assembled around 50, according to a Congressional Research Service report from March.
    Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 4 June 2026
  • Somewhere a hand was raised, a whistle was blown, and all at once the butchers were out of their stalls, assembling in the aisles.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Gather.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gather. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.

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