gathering

1 of 2

noun

gath·​er·​ing ˈga-t͟hə-riŋ 

ˈgat͟h-

plural gatherings

1

: a coming together of people in a group (as for social, religious, or political purposes) : assembly, meeting

an informal gathering

a gathering of world leaders

planned a big family gathering

2

: the collecting of food or raw materials from the wild

Hunting and gathering also added to the food supply. Wild fruits, berries and mollusks were gathered …

—Barbara A. Leitch

… peoples who raise domesticated animals and who do not depend on hunting, gathering, or the planting of their own crops …

—Marvin Harris

3

: collection, compilation

4

: a gather in cloth

5

: a suppurating swelling : abscess

gathering

2 of 2

present participle of gather entry 1

Synonyms of gathering

Noun

• assembly
• meeting
• assemblage
• conference

Examples of gathering in a Sentence

Noun

I see my cousins only at occasional family gatherings.

dinner parties and other social gatherings

a gathering of political leaders

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

But to experience the best of community life, wangle an invite to a social gathering in someone’s shed, the island’s version of a house party. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Apr. 2026

Town halls across O‘ahu, Hawai‘i Island, and Maui shaped the project, as did time spent at Native Books, a space where knowledge circulates through gathering and love. —Wassan Al-Khudhairi, Artforum, 2 Apr. 2026

Conversations between people and land are as alive as human dialogue in these earnest portrayals of gathering and return. —Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 1 Apr. 2026

The service is the first major royal gathering since Andrew’s arrest, and the latest revelations about Fergie, too. —Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 1 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English gaderyng, gederunge, going back to Old English gadrung, gædrung, gegaderung, gegadrung "joining, union, assembly," from gadrian, gaderian "to join, unite, gather entry 1" + -ung -ing entry 3

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for gathering

• ingathering

Kids Definition

gathering

noun

1

: assembly sense 1, meeting

2

: a pus-filled swelling (as an abscess)

3

: the collecting of food and raw materials from the wild

4

: collection sense 2a

5

: a gather in cloth

Medical Definition

gathering

noun

gath·​er·​ing

: a suppurating swelling : abscess