verb

gather

GA-thuh

verb

To bring separate things or people together in one place.

"They gathered the children into the classroom before the fire drill."

"Dark clouds gathered over the hills before the storm."

To collect or accumulate something gradually.

"She spent the afternoon gathering firewood."

"The evidence gathered over months finally led to an arrest."

To conclude or infer something from information available.

"I gather from your tone that you disagree."

How to Use Gather

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo bring things or people together, to collect something over time, or to work out something from clues.

Common pairings

gather information gather round gather strength I gather that

gathered past tense, gathers plural, gathers singular

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They _____ the children into the classroom before the fire drill.

From Old English gaderian ("to bring together, unite"), from a Germanic root meaning "to unite or keep."

add up begather togetherize

accumulate group assemble

father lather rather Mather leather weather feather heather breather godfather stepfather Mayweather

add up begather togetherize accumulate group assemble