congregate

[kong-gri-geyt, kong-gri-git, -geyt]

verb (used without object)

congregated, congregating 

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)

congregated, congregating 

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

Other Word Forms

• congregative adjective
• congregativeness noun
• congregator noun
• decongregate verb
• noncongregative adjective
• uncongregated adjective
• uncongregative 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

"In particular, we urge people not to congregate outside communal premises and synagogues to keep their doors closed at all times", they said.

From BBC

A small group of people — a number of them women in their 60s and 70s with gray braids and top-of-the-line rain jackets — have been congregating here for months to protest the federal immigration crackdown.

From Los Angeles Times

Defend Our Juries who organised the protest said: "Whilst the Labour party congregate at their annual conference, protestors are outside disobeying the unjust ban on Palestine Action."

From BBC

Also avoiding areas at dawn or dusk when mosquitoes congregate is key to avoid getting bitten.

From Los Angeles Times

We are talking about Sacramento’s Stockton Boulevard, where Vietnamese men congregate in the cafes every afternoon.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bunch up www.thesaurus.com
• converge 
• flock 
• gather 
• swarm 
• throng