amassing

USAGE SUMMARY

"amassing" is a correct and usable word in written English.
It can be used to mean "to collect or gather in large numbers or quantities". For example, "The student amassed a large collection of rare books over the course of 10 years."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Star Lions recruit Dayne Beams also saw plenty of the football, amassing a game-high 32 disposals in his first match since his protracted move from Collingwood late last year - but he only kicked the ball seven times, and was minded closely by Taylor Adams for most of the night.

The Guardian - Sport

She will immediately begin a fundraising push, drawing support from both small-money donors and Wall Street plutocrats, amassing what is likely to be the largest campaign war chest in presidential history.

The Guardian

Turkey's president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has suffered his biggest setback in 13 years of amassing power as voters denied his ruling party a parliamentary majority for the first time since 2002 and gave the country's large Kurdish minority its biggest voice ever in national politics.

The Guardian

Until recently, it seemed that Victoria was the only dead-eyed succubus amassing strategic weapons, reality shows and dinner dates with infrequently sane movie stars in order to establish a West Coast power base.

The Guardian

While the 18th- and 19th-century trade in body parts hinged largely on an export market (as well as on private collectors: stories abound of Aboriginal skulls adorning drawing room mantles in pastoral homesteads), in the 1900s Australian institutions were amassing very big collections, too.

The Guardian

Iran is expected to pass a threshold in the second half of 2009, amassing enough low-enriched uranium to get close to a bomb, though it would still need to enrich it to higher levels to fuel a nuclear device.

The Economist

In an open letter to Mr Manyi, he accused him of being a "worst-order racist" seeking to impose "black domination" on South Africa.Mr Malema, another ANC leader prone to making racist remarks, has been lashing out at Mr Zuma's rich Indian friends, the Guptas, for "colonising the country" and "amassing [its] resources".

The Economist

Georgia has also accused Russia of amassing weapons in the Akhalgori district of South Ossetia, which used to be under Georgian control before the August war.Russia has several reasons for gradually bolstering ties with Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

The Economist

It must switch from indiscriminately amassing factories, ports and other fixed assets to a more finely graded allocation of capital and workers that allows small service firms to flourish.

The Economist

His opponents believe that these women can provide evidence of the ill-gotten wealth he is accused of amassing, and as the trial opened, they dropped a bombshell.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Berlusconi or Brussels Aznar hurt, ETA clobbered Ilir Meta The bill's on me, says Berezovsky Reprints Related items Russia: Media muzzleApr 19th 2001 Boris Berezovsky, puppeteer or future victim?Mar 23rd 2000Mr Berezovsky is amassing other people's moral capital just as he used to amass the real stuff a few years ago.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "amassing" when you want to convey the idea of accumulating a large quantity of something, often with the implication of effort or purpose. For example, "The company is amassing data to improve its marketing strategies."

Common error

Avoid using "amassing" when a more neutral term like "collecting" or "gathering" would be more appropriate. "Amassing" often implies a significant quantity or a strategic purpose, so it might sound unnatural if used to describe simply collecting a few items.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "amassing" is that of a present participle, often used to form continuous verb tenses or as a gerund. Ludwig AI shows that it commonly modifies nouns or serves as part of a verb phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "amassing" functions as a present participle, denoting the act of gathering or accumulating something in large quantities, often strategically. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and high frequency, particularly in contexts such as News & Media and Formal & Business writing. When using "amassing", ensure it aligns with the intended connotation of a significant, purposeful accumulation. Alternatives like "accumulating", "gathering", and "collecting" can be considered for nuanced meanings. By understanding its function and context, you can effectively employ "amassing" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

accumulating

Emphasizes a gradual increase in quantity over time.

gathering

Implies collecting things together, often from different places or sources.

collecting

Suggests a more deliberate and organized process of acquiring items.

piling up

Conveys a sense of things accumulating haphazardly.

building up

Suggests a gradual increase, often with the implication of strengthening or improving something.

hoarding

Implies accumulating and hiding away something, often excessively.

stockpiling

Refers to accumulating large quantities of something for future use, often in preparation for a potential shortage or emergency.

compiling

Suggests gathering information or data together in a structured way.

racking up

Often used to describe accumulating debts, points, or achievements.

aggregating

Focuses on combining different pieces of information into a whole.

FAQs

How can I use "amassing" in a sentence?

"Amassing" is used to describe the act of collecting or gathering something in large quantities. For example, "The historian spent years "amassing" documents for his research".

What are some alternatives to "amassing"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "accumulating", "gathering", or "collecting". Each has slightly different connotations.

Is it correct to use "amassing" in formal writing?

Yes, "amassing" is suitable for formal writing, particularly when you want to emphasize the scale or strategic nature of the accumulation.

What is the difference between "amassing" and "accumulating"?

"Amassing" often suggests a deliberate or strategic effort to gather a large quantity of something, while "accumulating" can imply a more gradual or passive process. For example, one might be ""amassing" a fortune" through careful planning, but "accumulating dust" over time unintentionally.