congregate

[ verb kong-gri-geyt; adjective kong-gri-git, -geyt ]

verb (used without object)

, con·gre·gat·ed, con·gre·gat·ing.

1. to come together; assemble, especially in large numbers:

   People waiting for rooms congregated in the hotel lobby.

   Synonyms: cluster, throng, collect, gather

verb (used with object)

, con·gre·gat·ed, con·gre·gat·ing.

1. to bring together in a crowd, body, or mass; assemble; collect.

adjective

1. congregated; assembled.
2. formed by collecting; collective.

congregate

verb

1. to collect together in a body or crowd; assemble

adjective

1. collected together; assembled
2. relating to collecting; collective

Derived Forms

• ˈcongreˌgativeness, noun
• ˈcongreˌgative, adjective
• ˈcongreˌgator, noun

Other Words From

• congre·gative adjective
• congre·gative·ness noun
• congre·gator noun
• de·congre·gate verb decongregated decongregating
• non·congre·gative adjective
• un·congre·gated adjective
• un·congre·gative adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of congregate¹

1350–1400; Middle English (adj.) < Latin congregātus (past participle of congregāre to flock together), equivalent to con- con- + greg- (stem of grex ) flock + -ātus -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of congregate¹

C15: from Latin congregāre to collect into a flock, from grex flock

Example Sentences

The principal of Beverly Hills High School told students they could no longer ‘congregate, circle up, shout, jump, etc.,’ according to a message sent out to parents and students.

From Los Angeles Times

“And Black men congregate in other places than barber shops.”

From Los Angeles Times

Beverly Hills High School has limited students’ ability to congregate in the wake of “spirited demonstrations” by pro-Trump pupils following Tuesday’s elections.

From Los Angeles Times

“I didn’t understand why people didn’t know where to congregate. Now I get it. It’s all these different cores.”

From Los Angeles Times

Thousands of spectators congregated in Pall Mall to see a display of some of the world's oldest and newest cars.

From BBC

Related Words

• bunch up
• converge
• flock
• gather
• swarm
• throng