collect
verb (used with object)
to gather together; assemble.
has been collecting
-
present perfect progressiveof collect (3rd person singular).present perfect progressive
Used to describe an action that began in the past, has continued continuously, and is still in progress.
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.
John Overdeck’s legal team has been collecting lunch orders each morning and having food delivered to the courthouse from Hobby’s Delicatessen, a legendary eatery near the courthouse.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026
Perhaps its best business has been collecting over $20 billion annually from Google to make the search engine the default in Apple’s Safari browser.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026
Since then, the state agency has been collecting and publishing the compensation data of more than 2 million workers across more than 5,000 public agencies — including special districts, universities and state departments.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 11, 2026
The 23-year-old from Treorchy, Rhondda Cynon Taf, has been collecting for just over a year and believes her cards are worth about £500.
From BBC ● Mar. 27, 2026
Soojin describes the heaps of red, white, and blue decorations her mother has been collecting since Independence Day.
From "Amina's Voice" by Hena Khan
