Synonyms of gather

gather

verb

ˈga-t͟hər 

1

as in to collect

to bring together in one body or place

he gathered the leftovers from the table and gave them to the dog

let's gather the students and have them line up on the playground before going in from recess

Synonyms & Similar Words

• collect
• assemble
• amass
• accumulate
• garner
• corral
• group
• congregate
• combine
• join
• concentrate
• pack
• get together
• lump
• round up
• organize
• bulk (up)
• unite
• constellate
• muster
• pick up
• arrange
• raise
• bunch
• pile
• compile
• stack
• rally
• connect
• ball
• batch
• huddle
• flock
• merge
• collate
• heap
• cluster
• herd
• regroup
• swarm
• band
• link
• systematize
• throng
• pool
• press
• hive
• archive
• regather
• brigade
• re-collect
• scrape (up or together)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• disperse
• scatter
• dispel
• dissipate
• send
• separate
• split (up)
• dissolve
• sever
• dismiss
• break up
• disintegrate
• disband

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

• harvest
• pick
• reap
• grow
• glean
• fish
• accumulate
• mow
• garner
• capture
• seal
• forage
• cut
• hunt
• hay
• raise
• crop
• trap
• clam
• shrimp
• net
• whale
• snare
• bag

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• plant
• sow
• seed

3

as in to converge

to come together into one body or place

a crowd gathered around the street musician

ask the faculty to gather in the lounge for the meeting

Synonyms & Similar Words

• converge
• assemble
• meet
• convene
• rendezvous
• collect
• congregate
• join
• merge
• get together
• concentrate
• cluster
• conglomerate
• cooperate
• forgather
• consolidate
• collaborate
• unite
• concenter
• couple
• club
• reconvene
• affiliate
• reassemble
• confederate
• associate
• federate
• ally
• band (together)
• consort
• regather
• conjoin
• caucus
• gang up
• remeet

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• disperse
• split (up)
• leave
• disband
• break up
• depart
• take off
• dissociate
• disunite
• disjoin

4

as in to derive

to form an opinion or reach a conclusion through reasoning and information

I gather that, since you are back so early, she didn't want to see you?

Synonyms & Similar Words

• derive
• understand
• decide
• infer
• deduce
• extrapolate
• conclude
• think
• guess
• speculate
• reason
• ascertain
• judge
• assume
• make out
• read
• suppose
• interpret
• draw a conclusion
• surmise
• contemplate
• construe
• rationalize
• conjecture
• find out
• philosophize
• dope (out)

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

• accumulate
• collect
• amass
• concentrate
• pile (up)
• conglomerate
• build up
• stack (up)
• mass
• accrete
• drift
• lump
• ridge
• clump
• agglutinate
• bank

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• disperse
• scatter
• dissipate

6

as in to gain

to gradually increase in

the movement gathered force as election day neared

Synonyms & Similar Words

• gain
• grow (in)
• build up
• accumulate
• pick up
• expand
• accrue
• amass
• stimulate
• maximize
• double (in)
• enhance
• excite
• extend
• enrich
• mount
• enlarge
• triple (in)
• elevate
• step up
• boost
• ramp (up)
• jack (up)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• lose
• decrease (in)
• fall (in)
• decline (in)
• lessen
• diminish (in)
• dip
• abate
• dwindle
• taper off
• taper

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

• summon
• get up
• conjure (up)
• elicit
• evoke
• raise
• educe

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

Recent Examples of gather

At the void deck was a group of old men gathered around a stone table, bottles of beer open before them. — Rachel Heng, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026

Staff cutbacks also resulted in the agency reducing weather balloonsused to gather data fishermen rely on. — Patrick Whittle, Fortune, 4 Oct. 2026

On Saturday, thousands gathered to mourn her death and celebrate her legacy. — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2026

Officials from all six New England states recently gathered at the University of Massachusetts in Lowell for a summit on the revival of nuclear power in the region. — John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 4 Oct. 2026