congregate

[ verb kong-gri-geyt; adjective kong-gri-git, -geyt ]

verb (used without object)

, con·gre·gat·ed, con·gre·gat·ing.

1. to come together; assemble, especially in large numbers:

   People waiting for rooms congregated in the hotel lobby.

   Synonyms: cluster, throng, collect, gather

verb (used with object)

, con·gre·gat·ed, con·gre·gat·ing.

1. to bring together in a crowd, body, or mass; assemble; collect.

adjective

1. congregated; assembled.
2. formed by collecting; collective.

congregate

verb

1. to collect together in a body or crowd; assemble

adjective

1. collected together; assembled
2. relating to collecting; collective

Derived Forms

• ˈcongreˌgativeness, noun
• ˈcongreˌgative, adjective
• ˈcongreˌgator, noun

Other Words From

• congre·gative adjective
• congre·gative·ness noun
• congre·gator noun
• de·congre·gate verb decongregated decongregating
• non·congre·gative adjective
• un·congre·gated adjective
• un·congre·gative adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of congregate¹

1350–1400; Middle English (adj.) < Latin congregātus (past participle of congregāre to flock together), equivalent to con- con- + greg- (stem of grex ) flock + -ātus -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of congregate¹

C15: from Latin congregāre to collect into a flock, from grex flock

Example Sentences

A few children, settler children, congregate near what appears to have been the bus station.

From The Daily Beast

During the Iranian iteration, one event allowed customers to congregate with a local dining in Iran.

From The Daily Beast

An NYPD official says an AP reporter called to ask where people of Chechen descent might congregate in New York City.

From The Daily Beast

The whole point of a bohemia is that people congregate in a relatively well-defined area.

From The Daily Beast

Yet in the film, the dwarves, hobbit and wizard all congregate to a single tree that remains untouched by the fire.

From The Daily Beast

Patriots were inclined to congregate about the Lion d'Or and to ask awkward questions.

From Project Gutenberg

At its upper end, below my windows, all the cats of the neighbourhood congregate as soon as darkness gathers.

From Project Gutenberg

There was no help for it, and men and women had to congregate in these barns together.

From Project Gutenberg

The trouble was in the outfield—where the trouble in such contests are sure to congregate.

From Project Gutenberg

The term is now used loosely of any locality in a city or country where Jews congregate.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bunch up
• converge
• flock
• gather
• swarm
• throng