gather

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "gather" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to mean "to collect (people or things) together in one place." For example, "We will gather together to celebrate the holiday this weekend."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

When sector leaders gather on Thursday at the annual conference of Skills for Care, the workforce development body for adult social care, the talk is likely to be about an even stiffer potential bill, however.

The Guardian

I once termed those who gather at IMF meetings as "the international debt set".

The Guardian

If you want to back their cause you can sign and share their petition, help them to gather public statements of support, like them on Facebook or follow the @hetMaagdenhuis or @RethinkUvA accounts on Twitter.

The Guardian

Many of our young people, adept in collating, processing and sharing information, seek rapid answers to the problems that gather around them.

The Guardian - Opinion

A small central area has shop, internet, laundry, books, snorkelling gear and regulars who gather to shoot the breeze.

The Guardian - Travel

The goalkeeper gets down to gather at his near post.

The Guardian - Sport

Bakhrom Ismailov of Russia Without Racism recounted instances of discrimination against immigrants, such as locals frequently calling the police when Central Asian labourers gather for pick-up football games.

The Guardian - Sport

An hour south of Austin, in the lobby of the Westoak Woods Baptist Church convention centre, morgellons sufferers from the US, UK, Spain, Germany and Mexico gather by the breakfast buffet.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

We will gather in peace and we will leave in peace".

The Guardian

Young and old, local and tourists gather here every evening to enjoy the views across the aquamarine Indian Ocean on the one side and the House of Wonders on the other.

The Guardian

It gives power to citizens to call upon the European commission to create specific legal acts, if they can gather 1m signatures from at least seven member states.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "gather", consider the context to ensure it accurately reflects the nature of the collection – is it formal, informal, gradual, or purposeful?

Common error

Avoid using "gather" in highly formal or technical writing where more precise terms like "assemble", "convene", or "compile" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

Gather primarily functions as a verb, indicating the act of bringing people or things together. It can also denote inferring information. Ludwig provides numerous examples illustrating these usages.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "gather" is a versatile verb commonly used to describe the act of collecting or assembling people or things, as well as inferring information. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and applicability across various contexts. While the phrase exhibits a neutral register, it's crucial to consider the context to select the most appropriate synonym for enhanced precision. It sees frequent usage in "News & Media", "Formal & Business", and "Science", so you can confidently use it in various writing scenarios. Use "gather" to mean "to collect (people or things) together in one place."

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

collect

A general term for bringing things together, lacking the implication of a specific location or purpose.

assemble

Implies a more formal and organized collection of people or things.

congregate

Describes people coming together in a group, often spontaneously.

convene

Specifically refers to calling people together for a formal meeting or purpose.

garner

Implies acquiring or collecting something, often praise or support.

accumulate

Focuses on gradually increasing the quantity of something over time.

amass

Suggests accumulating a large quantity of something, often wealth or power.

infer

Refers specifically to drawing a conclusion based on evidence or reasoning.

deduce

Similar to infer, but implies a more logical and certain conclusion.

glean

To extract information from various sources, often with difficulty.

FAQs

How to use "gather" in a sentence?

"Gather" can be used in many contexts, such as "They will gather at the community center" or "I gather that you're not happy with the decision".

What can I say instead of "gather"?

You can use alternatives like "assemble", "collect", or "infer" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "gather" or "get together"?

"Gather" is more formal and often implies a specific purpose, while "get together" is more informal and suggests a social meeting.

What's the difference between "gather" and "accumulate"?

"Gather" implies bringing things together, while "accumulate" suggests a gradual increase in quantity over time.