gather
verb (used with object)
to bring together into one group, collection, or place.
were gathering
-
past progressiveof gather.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
“God Bless America,” written at the end of World War I, was shelved until the canny Berlin unveiled it in 1938 as the storm clouds, as his lyric says, were gathering in Europe.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 25, 2026
While officials were gathering evidence, he was focused on the “education” of consumers.
From Salon ● Jun. 22, 2026
The Guards said four among them were gathering information "on sensitive sites and economic infrastructure" while others were linked to a "monarchist terrorist group".
From Barron's ● Mar. 17, 2026
At the same time, investigations against him led by the federal police under the scrutiny of Moraes were gathering pace and, in April of 2025, the Supreme Court scheduled his trial.
From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2025
In the other direction, the children were gathering in excited little knots, plotting and planning, for the first time any of them could remember, for the future.
From "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" by Ransom Riggs
