gathered for lunch

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "gathered for lunch" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a group of people coming together to eat lunch, often implying a social or informal setting. Example: "The team gathered for lunch at the new café down the street to discuss the upcoming project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

Outside, a lawn full of supermodels, billionaires and artists gathered for lunch.

The New York Times

By the end of Children's Day, 429 diners had gathered for lunch and dinner: a full house.

The New York Times - Food

The files disclose that, after the story broke, a handful of top Labour ministers gathered for lunch at Chequers.

The Guardian

On April 13, about 20 irrigators gathered for lunch at the Martha Inn Cafe here in George to discuss the buyout.

The New York Times

His first stop was at the firehouse of Engine Company 205 and Ladder Company 118 in Brooklyn Heights, where dozens of family members had gathered for lunch.

The New York Times

Later, Mr. Lazio sprinkled references to Langston Hughes in his largely autobiographical speech before 200 mostly elderly residents gathered for lunch at a Harlem Week 2000 celebration.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

Every month, two dozen young professionals trying to learn Hebrew gather for lunch downtown.

The New York Times

The Plaza was a business hotel, where professionals who worked on Cooper Street would gather for lunch.

The New York Times

12.34pm: Notts lose their fourth wicket: Ali Brown gone (leg before to Mahmood) and his side gather for lunch at 172 for four.

The Guardian - Sport

When the tick riders gather for lunch at one of their remote camps, often for a stew of potatoes, onions, beef and chili peppers, they incessantly poke fun at one other's shortcomings, like the bowlegged walk of one rider or the toothless grin of another.

The New York Times

Forty democratic senators were gathered for a lunch in March just off the Senate floor.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "gathered for lunch" to describe a group of people coming together in a social or informal setting to eat lunch. It implies a sense of community or shared purpose.

Common error

Avoid using "gathered for lunch" in highly formal or business settings where a more precise term like "convened" or "assembled" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "gathered for lunch" functions as a verbal phrase indicating an action (gathering) performed for a specific purpose (having lunch). It describes a group activity centered around a meal. As Ludwig AI suggests, it's grammatically sound and widely understood.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "gathered for lunch" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to describe people coming together for a midday meal. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely accepted. While it is suitable for various contexts, it leans towards informal settings. For more formal situations, consider using alternatives such as "convened for lunch" or "assembled for lunch". Its usage spans various categories, especially within news media.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

met for lunch

Focuses on the action of meeting rather than the act of gathering, implying a pre-arranged meeting.

got together for lunch

A more informal and casual alternative to "gathered".

came together for lunch

Highlights the unity or common purpose in sharing a meal.

assembled for lunch

Suggests a more formal or organized meeting.

had lunch together

A simple and direct way to express the act of sharing lunch.

congregated for lunch

Suggests a larger group coming together from various locations.

convened for lunch

Implies a planned meeting with a specific purpose beyond just eating.

united for lunch

Emphasizes the collaborative or unified aspect of the group.

dined together

Focuses solely on the act of eating a meal together, omitting the 'gathering' aspect.

lunch meeting

Implies that lunch is combined with a meeting or discussion.

FAQs

What does "gathered for lunch" mean?

It means a group of people came together to eat lunch, often implying a social or informal setting.

What can I say instead of "gathered for lunch"?

You can use alternatives like "met for lunch", "assembled for lunch", or "came together for lunch" depending on the context.

Is "gathered for lunch" formal or informal?

It leans towards being informal but is generally acceptable in neutral contexts like news reports. More formal alternatives exist for professional settings.

How do I use "gathered for lunch" in a sentence?

Example: "The team "gathered for lunch" to discuss the upcoming project".