assemble
verb (used with object)
to bring together or gather into one place, company, body, or whole.
assemble
1 American
[uh-sem-buhl]
/ əˈsɛm bəl /
verb (used with object)
-
assembles,
present (3rd person singular)
-
assembled,
past participle, past
-
assembling
present participle
verb (used without object)
-
assembles,
present (3rd person singular)
-
assembled,
past participle, past
-
assembling
present participle
assemblé
2
American
[a -sahn -blay]
/ a sɑ̃ˈbleɪ /
noun
Ballet.
-
assemblés
plural
assemble
1
British
/ əˈsɛmbəl /
verb
-
to come or bring together; collect or congregate
-
to fit or join together (the parts of something, such as a machine)
to assemble the parts of a kit
-
to run (a computer program) that converts a set of symbolic data, usually in the form of specific single-step instructions, into machine language
assemblé
2
British
/ asɑ̃ble /
noun
Usage
What does assemble mean? Assemble means to bring together in one place, as in I assembled all of the ingredients for a chocolate cake on the table. Assemble can also mean to put or fit things together, as in Ikea is known for selling furniture that you have to assemble. And assemble can mean to come together or meet up, as in The school staff assembled for a meeting. When used generally, assemble can be used as a synonym for words such as gather, collect, and amass. When used specifically, assemble often means gathering things to arrange them in a proper order or placement, as when you assemble all the parts to build a computer. Alternatively, assemble can mean to put things or parts together. This meaning is often used when referring to building or making something, as in Shontel will need to assemble several bookshelves using only a box of wooden planks. In this sense, assemble is often used to refer to fitting manufactured parts together to make a final product or device. For example, a person would assemble a Lego brick set by snapping the parts together. Both assembly and assemblage are used to refer to something that has been assembled, as in The president spoke to an assembly of world leaders. Example: She assembled a team of scientists so they could all work together on the secret project.
Synonym Usage
See gather. See manufacture.
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
assemblesimple
-
assemblessimple
-
have assembledperfect
-
has assembledperfect
-
am assemblingprogressive
-
are assemblingprogressive
-
is assemblingprogressive
-
have been assemblingperfect progressive
-
has been assemblingperfect progressive
Past
-
assembledsimple
-
had assembledperfect
-
was assemblingprogressive
-
were assemblingprogressive
-
had been assemblingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of assemble1
First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English, from Old French assembler, from Vulgar Latin assimulāre (unrecorded) “to bring together,” from Latin as- as- + simul “together” ( cf. simultaneous) + -āre, infinitive verb suffix
Origin of assemblé2
First recorded in 1820–30; from French, past participle of assembler; see assemble
Explanation
To assemble means to bring together, as in people or parts. The volunteers assembled to assemble the bikes for the needy kids. The U.S. Constitution guarantees in something in the Bill of Rights called "the right of assembly." This means that people are allowed to come together for any purpose they chose. In countries without this right, groups who assemble can be disbanded with the idea that they may be assembling a revolution.
Vocabulary lists containing assemble
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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The Bill of Rights
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"Julius Caesar" by William Shakespeare, Act I
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
To assemble, spread sun-dried tomato pesto on one half of the bun and the lemon-garlic mayo on the other.
From Salon ● Nov. 5, 2026
Without that control, nanoparticles tend to assemble into tightly packed arrangements that restrict the variety of structures researchers can produce.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 4, 2026
Many were destined for the large installation McGee’s friends helped to assemble for “Another Round,” his recently opened exhibition, which runs through Jan. 30.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 29, 2026
Prospective prime ministers will look to assemble a coalition that can command 61 seats.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 26, 2026
“Have Emmett assemble his recruits,” he told Dolorous Edd.
From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin
But moments after taking off for a double assemblé to the left — a jump in which the legs assemble, or meet in the air — things went terribly wrong.
From New York Times ● Oct. 30, 2022
She loved "le jeu, les visites, les assemblés, les cadeaux, et les promenades, en un mot toutes les choses de plasir," and wished to marry to get free from the trammels of her home.
From Character Sketches of Romance, Fiction and the Drama, Vol. 1 A Revised American Edition of the Reader's Handbook by Ebenezer Cobham Brewer
To prepare for increased production rates, a robot installed a year ago now assembles gearbox units.
From Barron's ● Oct. 28, 2026
They apply where they work or live, the states collect the data and the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics assembles the weekly report.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 8, 2026
"Investment that merely expands distribution networks or assembles products using Chinese parts could increase imports and deepen dependence. Approvals should therefore prioritise technology transfer, local value addition, domestic component production and exports from India."
From BBC ● Oct. 5, 2026
Plaud sources chips from external companies, including Taiwanese semiconductor firm Realtek, and assembles its products in Shenzhen, China.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026
The man behind the counter flips and assembles burgers at lightning speed, catering to the few but anxious stragglers.
From "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen
The power then passes through circuits assembled from parts recovered from destroyed homes before being stored in batteries.
From Barron's ● Nov. 5, 2026
These adjustments altered how the particles assembled, giving the team control over the number of neighboring particles each one could connect with.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 4, 2026
Instead, the dominant mood among the Middle East diplomats, defense officials and experts assembled last weekend was fear over the consequences of another bout of U.S.-Iran fighting.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 4, 2026
He would later record the events in a diary, writing: "We all assembled... replete with balloons, one pole-full of which I was carrying while dressed as Father Christmas - a plastic suit purchased at Woolworths."
From BBC ● Oct. 31, 2026
I picked up a box and quickly assembled it.
From "From the Desk of Zoe Washington" by Janae Marks
Beginning in 2005, Hyundai Motor Group opened stateside manufacturing campuses assembling U.S.-market vehicles, such as family SUVs.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 31, 2026
It also built a plant in Mesa, Ariz., in 2024, where it is assembling a second Delta class ship.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 29, 2026
Staffers have begun assembling a list of possible investigations and witnesses, according to people familiar with the discussions.
From BBC ● Oct. 28, 2026
If this explanation is correct, the two formations preserve evidence of the tremendous forces involved in assembling one of Earth's ancient supercontinents.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 11, 2026
Then it had only been a matter of establishing a campsite, assembling his men as they came ashore and moving quickly, before the local lordlings had any inkling of their peril.
From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin
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