gather about

USAGE SUMMARY

"gather about" is a valid phrase in written English, and it means to come together in a group in order to discuss something.
An example sentence might be: "The family gathered about the dinner table to discuss the day's events."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Over the course of an hour of sweat gathering, Web Scout was able to gather about 35 bottles of sweat.

Los Angeles Times

Crowds start to gather about a half-hour before.

The New York Times - Travel

Several of these organizations have banded together to pool the information they gather about illegal drugs in an annual report.

The New York Times - Arts

The success (and reliability) of the triggering phase is highly influenced by how much information one has been able to gather about the target.

A Guide to Kernel Exploitation Attacking the Core

"They will use all the information they can gather about you to offer more accurate pricing and personalise your quotes".

The Guardian - Money

So the U.S.T.A. will gather about two dozen boys and girls to live here and train under its coaching staff.

The New York Times - Sports

The state would gather about $780 million through raising the tax on cigarettes to $1.50 a pack, from $1.11.

The New York Times

The only information that the families had been able to gather about the kidnapped girls, he went on, was from the girls who had escaped.

The New Yorker

All we can know about the act of creation must be derived from what we can gather about the relation of the creatures to their Creator".

The New Yorker

Bakhrom Iminov, 34, was keeping track of the burials in a children's notebook, sketching out grids that he filled with any information he could gather about the dead.

The New York Times

Multi-faceted solutions reflect the complex realities of the modern world and benefit from a wealth of data and information we're able to gather about it.

Stanford University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing a title avoid the use of this phrasal verb. Try to find more descriptive and visually impactful titles.

Common error

Avoid using "gather about" in highly formal or technical writing. Opt for more precise alternatives like "assemble" or "congregate" for a more professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "gather about" is as a phrasal verb, indicating the action of people or entities coming together. Ludwig AI indicates this usage is well supported in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Academia

24%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Science

12%

Formal & Business

9%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "gather about" is a versatile phrasal verb used to describe the act of coming together for various purposes. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides numerous examples across diverse contexts, including news, academia, and wikis. While generally neutral in register, more formal alternatives like "assemble around" or "congregate around" might be preferred in highly formal settings. It's important to consider the specific context and desired tone when choosing between "gather about" and its alternatives. The analysis indicates that it is a very frequent and authoritative term, used across diverse fields.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

assemble around

Emphasizes a more formal or organized gathering.

congregate around

Suggests a spontaneous or unplanned gathering.

collect around

Highlights the action of people coming together.

muster around

Implies a call to action or a need for organization.

rally around

Suggests a gathering in support of a cause or person.

come together around

A more descriptive and less direct alternative.

group together around

Highlights the act of forming a group.

accumulate information about

Focuses on the process of gathering data or knowledge.

compile details about

Implies a systematic collection of facts.

amass knowledge regarding

Suggests a significant amount of information being gathered.

FAQs

How can I use "gather about" in a sentence?

You can use "gather about" to describe people coming together, like in "The students gathered about the teacher to ask questions" or to describe gathering information, as in "Researchers gather about data on climate change".

What's a more formal alternative to "gather about"?

For formal contexts, consider using "assemble around" or "congregate around". These options offer a more professional tone.

Is it correct to use "gather about" when referring to objects?

While primarily used for people, "gather about" can also refer to collecting information or objects, although less commonly. For objects, "collect" or "assemble" might be more appropriate.

What is the difference between "gather around" and "gather about"?

"Gather around" implies a more intimate or close gathering, while "gather about" suggests a general coming together. The choice depends on the specific context you want to convey.