1
2
as in to harvest
to catch or collect (a crop or natural resource) for human use late summer is when we gather the tomatoes and begin canning them for the winter

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
4
5
as in to accumulate
to gradually form into a layer, pile, or mass the newspapers that had been allowed to gather on the front doorstep told thieves that the family was away on vacation

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

6
7
as in to summon
to call into being through the use of one's inner resources or powers gathered the strength to finish the marathon

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb gather differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of gather are assemble, collect, and congregate. While all these words 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

Where would assemble be a reasonable alternative to gather?

Although the words assemble and gather have much in common, assemble implies an ordered union or organization of persons or things often for a definite purpose.

experts assembled for a conference

When is collect a more appropriate choice than gather?

The words collect and gather can be used in similar contexts, but collect often implies careful selection or orderly arrangement.

collected books on gardening

When could congregate be used to replace gather?

In some situations, the words congregate and gather are roughly equivalent. However, congregate implies a spontaneous flocking together into a crowd or huddle.

congregating under a shelter

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of gather The players flung t-shirts and candies into the crowds that gathered along their rout, showing off their trophy and waving to children bundled in Husky hats with jerseys layered on top of sweatshirts to brave the chilly afternoon. Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 13 Apr. 2025 From April 18-27, auto enthusiasts will gather at the Jacob Javits Convention Center to experience first-hand what their favorite manufacturers have to offer. Marc D. Grasso, New York Daily News, 13 Apr. 2025 All of the 11 astronauts now aboard the station gathered for a short ceremony after the docking more than 260 miles above the Atlantic Ocean. Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 16 Mar. 2025 Outside the Manhattan courthouse, hundreds of protesters gathered. Benjamin Wallace-Wells, The New Yorker, 16 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for gather
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gather
Verb
  • Sheila and Tyler Donovan’s deaths were the second and third homicides reported in Lenexa in 2024, according to data collected by The Star.
    Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 15 Apr. 2025
  • With that kind of money on the line, most tour pros would at least attempt to show up and collect a share of the paycheck — Scottie Scheffler did after winning his second Masters in 2024, won the tournament and took home another $3.6 million for his troubles.
    Hugh Kellenberger, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • In 2019, during the first Trump administration, agents in Mississippi used data harvested from Geo Group’s tools to help secure a warrant for a raid on a chicken processing plant.
    Paul Mozur, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
  • The crop can be harvested at anytime but most leave the bulbs in the ground until the tops decline and flop over.
    Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Lady in the Lake When the disappearance of a young girl grips the city of Baltimore in 1966, the lives of two women converge on a fatal collision course.
    Scott Feinberg, HollywoodReporter, 7 Apr. 2025
  • These brave ants converge upon the intruders, initiating a final, irreversible act of self-destruction.
    Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Streaming activity fuels almost all of Deep Thoughts’ first week, with 63,000 units deriving from the sector, equaling 85.9 million official on-demand U.S. audio and video streams of the album’s songs.
    Trevor Anderson, Billboard, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Xanthan and guar gum are derived from plants and are typically safe, even beneficial, according to some studies.
    Sandee LaMotte, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The rookies this season accumulated 0.054 win shares per 48 minutes—the ninth lowest of the past 40 seasons, but still significantly above recent seasons such as 2014, 2015 and 2017, as well as the infamously unproductive 2001 cohort.
    Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 16 Apr. 2025
  • For example, an American house accumulates an average of 300,000 objects, with more money spent each year on shoes, jewelry and clothes than on higher education.
    Ana Morales, Vogue, 16 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The strategy is straightforward: invest at least $2,000 in a company's stock to gain shareholder rights, then submit resolutions pushing for corporate responsibility.
    Doc Louallen, ABC News, 11 Apr. 2025
  • Many victims reported Crawley used his professional status and charismatic personality to gain trust, create an illusion of financial stability and ultimately exploit those relationships for personal gain, the release states.
    Ron Wood, Arkansas Online, 10 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Sammie’s music even summons traditional Chinese dancers, awakening Americanized Bo and Grace’s cultural heritage.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Trump summoned House Republicans to the White House for a midday meeting as the beleaguered speaker pulls out all the stops to nudge the process forward before lawmakers leave Thursday for a two-week spring recess.
    Lisa Mascaro and Kevin Freking, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The basic act of assembling and protesting the government’s actions is unquestionably protected, according to the First Amendment Coalition, a California nonprofit that’s committed to protecting freedom of speech.
    Louryn Strampe, Wired News, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Amazon will assemble that big constellation over more than 80 launches, the majority of them performed by the Atlas V and its successor, ULA's new Vulcan Centaur.
    Mike Wall, Space.com, 9 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Gather.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gather. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

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