congregate

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "congregate" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when referring to a group of people or animals gathering in one place. For example, "The birds congregated in the park."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Many RR regulars also congregate at the 'Spill blog.

The Guardian - Music

Instead, the plinth has become a place for rubberneckers to congregate, shake their heads and wonder what on earth has become of the club.

The Guardian - Sport

The bars and cafes are emptier than usual and, if they do go out, people seem to congregate in small, subdued groups.

The Guardian - Opinion

It has lost some of its power now the crowds cannot congregate in front of it to hail their heroes but it remains a Falstaff to its North London Cleopatra.

The Guardian - Sport

The exact number of orphans living on the streets is not known, but in Nairobi, where there are estimated to be 30,000 Aids orphans sleeping rough, gangs of children congregate.

The Guardian

We would all congregate in nightclubs like Stringfellows … and just get on it".

The Guardian

That means it can offer better deals to the borrowers and lenders who congregate on its platform.

The Economist

In the main halls they congregate around 3D printers, dummy manufacturing lines and laser-welding devices.

The Economist

Not much strange in that: nearly every big American city has a district where homosexuals congregate.

The Economist

If you try to drive up from Toamasina, the main port, to Antananarivo, the highland capital, you meet a roadblock at a bridge in Brickaville, where drunken soldiers, bored truck drivers and hundreds of porters congregate.

The Economist

In Puerto Cabezas, the regional capital closest to Felix's landfall, international aid workers and those from Nicaragua's government congregate with laptops and wireless internet, organising the distribution of food and supplies.It is harder to mitigate the immense economic damage natural disasters inflict.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "congregate" when you want to convey a sense of people or things deliberately coming together in a specific place or for a specific purpose.

Common error

Avoid using "congregate" in highly informal settings or casual conversations. Simpler alternatives like "meet up" or "gather" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "congregate" is as an intransitive verb, indicating the action of coming together in a group or assembly. Ludwig shows numerous examples where "congregate" describes people, animals, or even abstract entities forming a collective.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Formal & Business

18%

Science

18%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "congregate" is a grammatically sound and versatile verb, typically used to describe the act of people or things gathering together. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's commonly found in news and media sources, business contexts, and scientific writing. When aiming for clarity and precision in your writing, remember that "congregate" implies a deliberate or purposeful gathering. Consider alternatives like "gather", "assemble", or "meet up" for different shades of meaning. Avoid overuse in informal contexts to maintain an appropriate tone. Overall, "congregate" is a valuable addition to your vocabulary for describing the formation of groups and assemblies.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

gather together

Emphasizes the act of assembling from different locations into one place.

assemble

Suggests a more formal or organized gathering.

converge

Suggests movement from different directions to a common point.

meet up

An informal way to describe people coming together, often for social purposes.

flock together

Implies a large group moving towards a single location, often driven by a shared interest or need.

muster

Often used in military contexts, implying a gathering for inspection or preparation.

collect

A general term for bringing things or people together.

group

Focuses on the formation of a cluster or set of individuals.

round up

Suggests gathering people or animals, often from a wide area.

swarm

Implies a large, dense gathering, often with a sense of movement or activity.

FAQs

How can I use "congregate" in a sentence?

Use "congregate" to describe people or things coming together in a group or assembly. For instance, "The protesters "congregated" in the town square."

What are some synonyms for "congregate"?

Alternatives to "congregate" include "gather together", "assemble", or "meet up", each carrying slightly different connotations.

Is it better to use "congregate" or "gather"?

"Congregate" suggests a more deliberate and organized gathering, while "gather" is a more general term for coming together. The best choice depends on the specific context and desired nuance. Using "gather" is often appropriate in less formal situations.

What's the difference between "congregate" and "convene"?

"Convene" typically refers to a formal meeting or assembly called for a specific purpose, often with an official or organizational context. "Congregate" is more general and can refer to less formal gatherings. For example, a board of directors "convenes" a meeting, while fans might "congregate" outside a stadium.