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

Noun

• assemblage
• assembly
• conference
• congregation
• convocation
• ingathering
• meeting
• muster

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

Identify conferences or gatherings where your ideal clients or collaborators are likely to be. —Amanda Miller Littlejohn, Forbes, 24 Jan. 2025

The result was the creation of the International Association of Cooking Schools (IACP) in 1978, a model for the gathering and exchanging of ideas and information, and a source of support, now going strong in its 43rd year. —Cynthia Graubart, Bon Appétit, 24 Jan. 2025

Cabot’s eventual goal is to create a village, surrounded by the golf courses, residences, a hotel, an activity center, multi-function clubhouses, and gathering points for meals. —Michael Croley, Robb Report, 23 Jan. 2025

Those lessons were reinforced during the coronavirus pandemic, when weddings were in a state of flux because of laws prohibiting large gatherings. —Tammy Lagorce, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2025

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

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