gathering

1 of 2

noun

gath·​er·​ing ˈga-t͟hə-riŋ How to pronounce gathering (audio)
ˈgat͟h-
plural gatherings
Synonyms of gatheringnext
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

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Noun

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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
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.
Noun
For eclipse day, the mile-long Playa de la Rada is the obvious gathering place, with its broad Mediterranean horizon and proximity to the town center. — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 18 Oct. 2026 Partisan messages were also visible throughout the gathering. — Reginald David, Hartford Courant, 18 Oct. 2026 Proponents of female priests argue that the earliest Christians prayed and broke bread in homes where women, as hosts, would have presided over those gatherings. — Jonathan Bullington, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026 Expectations are too high In an era where every moment might be shared on social media, many feel the need to make their gatherings picture-perfect. — Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for gathering

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of gathering was before the 12th century

Rhymes for gathering

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Browse Nearby Words

gather/gain momentum
gathering
gathering coal
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Cite this Entry

“Gathering.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gathering. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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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
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