gathering

American  

[gath-er-ing] / ˈgæð ər ɪŋ /

noun

1. an assembly or meeting.

   Synonyms:

   assemblage

2. an assemblage of people; group or crowd.

   Synonyms:

   throng, company, concourse, congregation

3. a collection, assemblage, or compilation of anything.

4. the act of a person or thing that gathers.

5. something that is gathered together.

6. a gather or a series of gathers in cloth.

7. an inflamed and suppurating swelling.

   Synonyms:

   carbuncle, abscess, boil

8. (in a flue, duct, or the like) a tapered section forming a transition between two sections, one of which has a greater area than the other.

9. Bookbinding. a section in a book, usually a sheet cut into several leaves.

---

gathering British  

/ ˈɡæðərɪŋ /

noun

1. a group of people, things, etc, that are gathered together; assembly

2. sewing a gather or series of gathers in material

3. 1. the formation of pus in a boil

   2. the pus so formed

4. printing an informal name for section

---

Etymology

Origin of gathering

First recorded before 900; Middle English gaderinge, Old English gaderunge; equivalent to gather + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

“This place is a godsend,” said Crystal Nerone, who has made several information gathering trips there before she and her husband, Michael, file an application to rebuild their house on Laurel Drive.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

Instead, they would have to present facts that proved specific stories were the result of what became known as "unlawful information gathering", and that Mail journalists knew it was going on.

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

The annual confab is one of the largest gatherings of cybersecurity professionals, and the timing of this year’s gathering proved particularly apt.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

Demand is ramping up, however, with more developers now "making the future happen", he added in an interview during a gathering for OpenClaw enthusiasts.

From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026

She took off cantering back toward the center of town, where the society belles were gathering for an afternoon outing.

From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan

Related Words

• association
• caucus
• collection
• conclave
• conference
• congregation
• convention
• crowd
• function
• group
• mass
• meeting
• party
• throng