gather around

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'gather around' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to suggest that a group of people should come together in order to hear or do something. For example, you could write, "The teacher asked the students to gather around so he could explain the next lesson."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

All right, gather around, everybody.

The New Yorker

We gather around, dutifully interested.

The Guardian - Travel

Onlookers gather around and call for help.

The Guardian

A handful of schoolkids gather around, touching its fur, cooing.

The Guardian - Travel

By Tom O'Donnell All right, gather around, everybody.

The New Yorker

"People gather around these objects and start talking to strangers.

The New York Times - Arts

And they do not gather around for loud serenades.

The New York Times

Gather around, kids.

Huffington Post

We'd gather around and sing.

Wikipedia

The villagers gather around, fascinated.

Los Angeles Times

Coffee is something people gather around and talk over.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "gather around" to create a sense of intimacy and immediacy, like telling a story or sharing important news.

Common error

Avoid using "gather around" in highly formal documents or presentations; opt for more professional terms like "assemble" or "convene".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "gather around" functions primarily as an imperative verb phrase, used to direct or invite a group of people to come closer together. Ludwig provides numerous examples of its use in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Wiki

20%

Academia

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

3%

Science

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "gather around" is a common and grammatically correct phrasal verb used to invite people to come together, usually to hear or see something of interest. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is versatile and appropriate for a range of situations, though more formal contexts may benefit from synonyms like "assemble" or "convene". Its high frequency in news, media, and general web content reflects its widespread use in everyday communication. While effective for creating a sense of community and shared attention, careful consideration of the audience and setting will ensure the most appropriate register.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

come together

A more general term for uniting as a group for a common cause or reason.

group together

A simple, direct way of saying to form a group.

assemble

This is a more formal term for coming together as a group.

get together

A more casual and social term for meeting as a group.

circle up

This phrase often implies a more intimate and focused gathering, usually in a circular formation.

congregate

Similar to 'assemble', but often implies a spontaneous gathering.

collect

To bring things or people together into one place.

flock together

Suggests a large group coming together, often with a sense of urgency or shared purpose.

muster

Implies a more organized and sometimes urgent gathering, like for a military purpose.

meet up

Suggests a pre-arranged meeting or gathering.

FAQs

What does "gather around" mean?

The phrase "gather around" means to come together in a group, usually to listen to something or participate in an activity.

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

You can use "gather around" to invite people to come closer, such as, "Gather around, everyone, I have an announcement to make!"

What can I say instead of "gather around"?

You can use alternatives like "assemble", "congregate", or "come together" depending on the context.

Is "gather round" the same as "gather around"?

"Gather round" and "gather around" are interchangeable and mean the same thing. Both phrases are used to ask people to come together.