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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
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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

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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 Beaver Moon takes its name from early Native American tribes as well as American colonists, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac, when beavers begin sheltering in their lodges after gathering enough food to last the winter. Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 24 Oct. 2025 Ethan Hawke plays Hart; the setting, for the most part, is Sardi’s, the Broadway hangout where directors and actors would gather, post-performance on opening night, to wait for the reviews to roll in. Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 24 Oct. 2025 CEOs and global leaders will gather for a dynamic, invitation-only event shaping the future of business. Preston Fore, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2025 Chicago has become a focal point for that standoff, with protesters gathering daily for weeks as Operation Midway Blitz rolls across the city. Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for gather
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gather
Verb
  • The raw material for the inflation report - the price checks on hundreds of goods and services around the country - was collected in September.
    NPR, NPR, 25 Oct. 2025
  • The farmer, his son and grandson were still collecting mink, with more than a dozen live traps deployed and checked routinely, Hobbs said.
    Preston Fore, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Each crop is harvested at its peak, immediately cooled to preserve its natural flavor and nutrients, and transported to one of Taylor Farms’ advanced processing facilities.
    William Jones, Freep.com, 27 Oct. 2025
  • Soybean farmers in states like Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota and Indiana have been harvesting this fall without purchase orders from China, once the largest buyer of American soybeans.
    John Liu, CNN Money, 27 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Folsom was once a bustling outpost where Gold Rush miners and merchants converged.
    David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 25 Oct. 2025
  • The team eventually converges at the compound and a massive shootout ensues.
    Allison DeGrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Both are derived from your own blood cells, and they can be used to treat a variety of medical and aesthetic concerns, boosting elasticity and collagen, and promoting anti-ageing effects.
    Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 26 Oct. 2025
  • Ensuring the preservation of architectural legacy Throughout their groundbreaking study, TU Graz researchers continued to analyze the materials used, the names attributed to these sites, as well as their architecture, to derive the purpose behind the choices made.
    Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 26 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • At a higher level, the data accumulated by eBird has been used by researchers to better understand bird distribution, gain deeper understanding of migration patterns, model population trends and predict bird populations over time.
    Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Oct. 2025
  • Through eight games, he's accumulated 1,795 passing yards, 15 passing touchdowns and six interceptions, along with 199 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns.
    Rowan Fisher-Shotton, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The entirety of Evers' plan hinges on the closure of Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake, which have been under a federal compliance plan since 2017, after major issues gained the attention of federal investigators.
    Laura Schulte, jsonline.com, 27 Oct. 2025
  • What happens when Hoosiers gain an hour for the daylight saving time switch?
    Jenny Porter Tilley, IndyStar, 27 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • In Jennifer Kent's terrifying psychological horror film, the Babadook is summoned when Amelia reads to her son from a pop-up book about the monster, leading to days of terror.
    Steven Thrash, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Oct. 2025
  • Tompa has been capable of recounting a personal crisis while constantly opening up to universal reflections that summon all viewers.
    Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Ninety-eight of those flights have been devoted to building out the Starlink megaconstellation, by far the largest satellite network ever assembled.
    Mike Wall, Space.com, 28 Oct. 2025
  • All the parts were there, just waiting to be assembled.
    Ryan Ballogg, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Gather.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gather. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.

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