gather

[ gath-er ]

verb (used with object)

1. to bring together into one group, collection, or place:

   to gather firewood; to gather the troops.

   Synonyms: hoard, garner, amass, accumulate

   Antonyms: disperse, separate

2. to bring together or assemble from various places, sources, or people; collect gradually:

   The college is gathering a faculty from all over the country.

   Synonyms: hoard, garner, amass, accumulate

3. to serve as a center of attention for; attract:

   A good football game always gathers a crowd.

4. to pick or harvest (any crop or natural yield) from its place of growth or formation:

   to gather fruit; to gather flowers.

   Synonyms: garner, glean, reap, crop, pluck

5. to pick up piece by piece:

   Gather your toys from the floor.

6. to pick or scoop up:

   She gathered the crying child in her arms.

7. to collect (as taxes, dues, money owed, etc.).
8. to accumulate; increase:

   The storm gathers force.

   The car gathered speed.

9. to take by selection from among other things; sort out; cull.
10. to assemble or collect (one's energies or oneself ) as for an effort (often followed by up ):

    He gathered up his strength for the hard job.

11. to learn or conclude from observation; infer; deduce:

    I gather that he is the real leader.

    Synonyms: understand, assume

12. to wrap or draw around or close:

    He gathered his scarf around his neck.

13. to contract (the brow) into wrinkles.
14. to draw (cloth) up on a thread in fine folds or puckers by means of even stitches.
15. Bookbinding. to assemble (the printed sections of a book) in proper sequence for binding.
16. Nautical. to gain (way) from a dead stop or extremely slow speed.
17. Metalworking. to increase the sectional area of (stock) by any of various operations.
18. Glassmaking. to accumulate or collect (molten glass) at the end of a tube for blowing, shaping, etc.

verb (used without object)

1. to come together around a central point; assemble:

   Let's gather round the fire and sing.

   Antonyms: disperse, separate

2. to collect or accumulate:

   Clouds were gathering in the northeast.

   Synonyms: accrete

3. to grow, as by accretion; increase.
4. to become contracted into wrinkles, folds, creases, etc., as the brow or as cloth.
5. to come to a head, as a sore in suppurating.

noun

1. a drawing together; contraction.
2. Often gathers. a fold or pucker, as in gathered cloth.
3. an act or instance of gathering.
4. an amount or number gathered, as during a harvest.
5. Glassmaking. a mass of molten glass attached to the end of a punty.

gather

/ ˈɡæðə /

verb

1. to assemble or cause to assemble
2. to collect or be collected gradually; muster
3. tr to learn from information given; conclude or assume
4. tr to pick or harvest (flowers, fruit, etc)
5. tr; foll by to or into to clasp or embrace

   the mother gathered the child into her arms

6. tr to bring close (to) or wrap (around)

   she gathered her shawl about her shoulders

7. to increase or cause to increase gradually, as in force, speed, intensity, etc
8. to contract (the brow) or (of the brow) to become contracted into wrinkles; knit
9. tr to assemble (sections of a book) in the correct sequence for binding
10. tr to collect by making a selection
11. tr to prepare or make ready

    to gather one's wits

12. to draw (material) into a series of small tucks or folds by passing a thread through it and then pulling it tight
13. intr (of a boil or other sore) to come to a head; form pus

noun

1. 1. the act of gathering
   2. the amount gathered
2. a small fold in material, as made by a tightly pulled stitch; tuck
3. printing an informal name for section

Derived Forms

• ˈgatherer, noun
• ˈgatherable, adjective

Other Words From

• gath·er·a·ble adjective
• gath·er·er noun
• pre·gath·er verb (used without object)
• re·gath·er verb
• un·gath·ered adjective
• well-gath·ered adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of gather¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English gaderen, Old English gaderian, derivative of geador “together,” akin to gæd “fellowship”; together, good

Word History and Origins

Origin of gather¹

Old English gadrian; related to Old Frisian gaderia, Middle Low German gaderen

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. be gathered to one's fathers, to die.

More idioms and phrases containing gather

see rolling stone gathers no moss .

Synonym Study

Gather, assemble, collect, muster, marshal imply bringing or drawing together. Gather expresses the general idea usually with no implication of arrangement: to gather seashells. Assemble is used of objects or facts brought together preparatory to arranging them: to assemble data for a report. Collect implies purposeful accumulation to form an ordered whole: to collect evidence. Muster, primarily a military term, suggests thoroughness in the process of collection: to muster all one's resources. Marshal, another term primarily military, suggests rigorously ordered, purposeful arrangement: to marshal facts for effective presentation.

Example Sentences

The Associated Press reported that the funeral location was not made public in advance to prevent a large crowd from gathering.

From Los Angeles Times

This allows them to learn essential skills, including caring for infants and cooking as well as hunting and gathering, through a process that is often subtle and nonverbal.

From Science Daily

"This can range from cerebral palsy specific studies to any study that involves neurodevelopmental conditions. The information that is gathered will help improve the care adults with cerebral palsy receive and better tailor their treatments."

From Science Daily

Maybe you’re planning a wedding, a large family gathering or just want to go all-out for the holidays.

From Los Angeles Times

After being gathered by hand, villagers from Umm Safa take sacks full of olives to the nearby factory, where the presses have restarted this season.

From BBC

Related Words

• assemble
• choose
• cluster
• collect
• congregate
• convene
• converge
• crowd
• draw
• flock
• huddle
• meet
• pick
• round up
• show up