assemble

verb

as·​sem·​ble ə-ˈsem-bəl 

assembled; assembling ə-ˈsem-b(ə-)liŋ 

transitive verb

1

: to bring together (as in a particular place or for a particular purpose)

They assembled a team of experts to solve the problem.

2

: to fit together the parts of

assemble a new bicycle

intransitive verb

: to meet together : convene

The club assembles once a month.

Synonyms

• cluster
• collect
• concenter
• concentrate
• conglomerate
• congregate
• convene
• converge
• forgather
• foregather
• gather
• meet
• rendezvous

Choose the Right Synonym for assemble

gather, collect, assemble, congregate 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

collect often implies careful selection or orderly arrangement.

collected books on gardening

assemble implies an ordered union or organization of persons or things often for a definite purpose.

experts assembled for a conference

congregate implies a spontaneous flocking together into a crowd or huddle.

congregating under a shelter

Examples of assemble in a Sentence

We'll need to assemble a list of songs for the concert.

She assembled all of her old photos into three albums.

Hundreds of notes and letters were assembled into a book.

A team of scientists was assembled to study the problem.

The U.S. Constitution gives people the right to assemble peacefully.

A crowd had assembled in front of the courthouse during the trial.

After dinner, the men would assemble in the living room to watch the game on TV.

The club assembles once a month to discuss upcoming activities.

Their father helped them assemble their new bicycles in the garage.

The cars are assembled on an assembly line.

Recent Examples on the Web

The backpack had been left behind by a teen hiker who had to be rescued more than a month earlier after getting lost near the same location, according to Paul and the teenager who assembled the supplies. —Ray Sanchez, CNN, 22 Feb. 2025

The development of offshore wind is vital to the Port of Long Beach, which plans to spend $4.7 billion to construct a 400-acre terminal called Tier Wind that will stage, store and assemble the massive wind turbines. —Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Feb. 2025

Rather, homemade bombs assembled by Lan Xin Yan (Qui Jie), whose brother died in the robbery, escalates the tension. —Robert Daniels, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2025

Without the full health package, lawmakers will likely have to assemble a smaller, must-pass extenders package. —Peter Sullivan, Axios, 20 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English asemblen, assemblen "(intransitive) to come together, congregate, meet, (transitive) to bring together, gather," borrowed from Anglo-French asembler, assembler (also continental Old French), going back to Vulgar Latin *assimulāre, from Latin as- as- + Vulgar Latin *-simulāre, verbal derivative of Latin simul "in company, together, at the same time" — more at simultaneous

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for assemble

• semble
• tremble
• disassemble
• reassemble
• dissemble
• resemble

Kids Definition

assemble

verb

as·​sem·​ble ə-ˈsem-bəl 

assembled; assembling -b(ə-)liŋ 

1

: to collect into one place or group

assembled the crew

2

: to fit together the parts of

assemble a toy

3

: to meet together

the right to assemble peacefully

Etymology

Middle English assemblen "to bring together, assemble," from early French assembler (same meaning), derived from Latin ad- "to" and simul "together" — related to ensemble, simultaneous

Legal Definition

assemble

verb

as·​sem·​ble

assembled; assembling

transitive verb

: to bring or summon together into a group especially in a particular place for a particular purpose

intransitive verb

: to come or meet together in a group often formally or for a common purpose

the right of the people peaceably to assemble

—U.S. Constitution amend. I