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

Trump’s victory was called early Wednesday morning, prompting people across the Bay Area to quickly organize gatherings in protest of the former president’s re-election. —Grant Stringer, The Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2024

Today, the Trump campaign plans an election watch party at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in Florida and a smaller gathering at Mar-a-Lago with Trump and family members. —Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 5 Nov. 2024

Political parties, outside groups and campaigns would host their election night parties at nearby hotels, turning the area around City Hall into a rare and unique civic gathering. —Andrew Keatts, Axios, 5 Nov. 2024

This innovative concept transformed a solo performance into a vibrant gathering and marked the inception of SIP, which has since evolved into a celebrated annual festival uniting songwriters and music enthusiasts in an idyllic setting. —Noel Burgess, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024

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