Gathering

ˈɡæðərɪŋ

nounBeginner🔥Very CommonAction
2 meanings1 idiom/phrase3 questions

Definitions

2 meanings
1

A coming together of people or things.

ˈɡæðərɪŋ

nounneutralBeginner
Action

A coming together of people.

The family held a large gathering for the holidays.

💡 Simply: Imagine you're planning a party! A gathering is like that - a time when people get together to have fun, chat, or do something together. It's a time for friendship and connections!

👶 For kids: When a bunch of people or things come together, that's a gathering!

More Examples

2

The protesters organized a gathering to voice their concerns.

3

A joyous gathering of friends was held in the park.

How It's Used

Social

"Attending a family gathering."

Political

"The protesters held a large public gathering."

Religious

"A church gathering."

2

The act of collecting or accumulating things.

ˈɡæðərɪŋ

nounneutralBeginner
Action

The action of collecting something.

The museum's gathering of artifacts showcased ancient cultures.

💡 Simply: It's like collecting toys, picking flowers, or saving up money. A gathering here means the action of collecting something, like a farmer gathering crops or a scientist gathering data.

👶 For kids: When you're picking up things or putting them together, that's gathering!

More Examples

2

Data gathering is a critical part of any scientific study.

3

The farmer finished the gathering of the ripe fruit.

How It's Used

Farming

"The gathering of the harvest."

Business

"Data gathering is an essential step in market research."

Tip:Picture someone collecting leaves; they are 'gathering' them.

Idioms & expressions

a gathering of...

Used to describe a group of people or things coming together.

"A gathering of friends at the beach."

From Middle English gaderen, from Old English *gædrian (West Saxon), *gadrian (Anglian), from *gadera (to gather), from Proto-Germanic *gadōrijaną (to bring together, collect).

The word 'gathering' has been used for centuries to denote meetings and collections, evolving alongside social and economic shifts.

Memory tip

Think of a group of people getting together to share their ideas or celebrate an occasion; a gathering brings people together.

Word Origin

LanguageProto-Germanic
Original meaning

"to bring together, collect"

family gatheringpublic gatheringdata gatheringpeaceful gatheringlarge gathering

Common misspellings

gathringgatherring

Usage

60%Spoken
40%Written