congregate
Americanverb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
adjective
-
congregated; assembled.
-
formed by collecting; collective.
verb
adjective
-
collected together; assembled
-
relating to collecting; collective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of congregate
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
Explanation
Congregate is a verb that means to come together, to assemble, or to gather. At school dances, you may congregate with your friends, because you get nervous in front of kids you don't know very well. Congregate comes from Latin root words com, meaning "together" and gregare, meaning "to gather in a flock." Congregation, or a gathering or assembly, comes from the same roots, as does gregarious, an adjective describing someone who likes to gather with others to socialize. If you remember the key word is flock — what ministers often call their congregations — you should have no trouble remembering congregate means to flock together.
Vocabulary lists containing congregate
Power Prefix: con-
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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.
Congregate living health facilities were born out of the efforts of Mary Williams, a Northridge nurse who was frustrated with the choices available for her quadriplegic patients when they were ready to leave the hospital.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 27, 2024
Congregate work, lack of protective equipment and inadequate ventilation at work became key factors in the spread of the virus that put these workers at elevated risk, advocates said.
From Washington Post • Aug. 18, 2022
Congregate shelter settings are dangerous for people with serious illness.
From Seattle Times • Jan. 9, 2022
She said the Accountability for Congregate Care Act would set out a national bill of rights for youth in residential facilities, and urged members of Congress and President Joe Biden to pass it into law.
From BBC • Oct. 20, 2021
Congregate, kong′gre-gāt, v.t. to gather together: to assemble.—v.i. to flock together.—p.adj.
From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D) by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
