harvest

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'harvest' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe reaping or gathering a crop or the result of gathering. For example: "The farmers were busy harvesting the corn before the rain came".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Travel

Books

Global Development

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In 2012, Tashkent – facing international pressure over its widely documented use of child labour to harvest its main cash crop – moved to take younger children out of the cotton fields.

The Guardian

But if they don't back up their words with action and continue to deploy the filibuster and retreat of the old politics in the face of social inequality then they too will reap a bitter harvest.

The Guardian - Opinion

"The mountains are glowing red and it will be a good harvest," she predicted.

The Guardian

It was harvest time and rice was drying in front of stilted huts between which pigs snuffled.

The Guardian - Travel

The party will also expect to increase its overall Dáil representation as it hopes to harvest votes from disgruntled Fianna Fáil supporters, who are going to abandon the Soldiers of Destiny in their droves as punishment for Brian Cowen's mishandling of Ireland's fiscal woes.

The Guardian

Yet, one of the key features of the darknet – the anonymity – is largely highlighted as its most dangerous component, with the "what have you got to hide?" card being thrown into most debates about encryption systems such as Tor, despite the dangers posed by the absolute lack of anonymity forced on internet users by sites that harvest their data.

The Guardian - Music

There is a moral question: would that wheat have gone to Africa instead?" Andrew Pitts notes that in 2008, after a poor global harvest, the price of wheat doubled and that the unrest in Ukraine has affected wheat prices.

The Guardian

Among a rich harvest of anecdotes and quotes in Press Gazette's valedictory tribute (incorporating a former Times night editor's blog) is the following Alton suggestion for his worst cock-up: "Our [Observer] magazine was running the 100 greatest ideas of the past 100 years.

The Guardian

The craft of the agave harvest, still done entirely by hand, has remained virtually unchanged since around 1600 when tequila was first invented by the Spanish conquistadors.

The Guardian

And they liked what we were trying to do, that we were going to harvest local berries".

The Guardian

Stories grounded in the landscape also loom large, in customs such as choosing the gleaning queen when the harvest is brought in, or bumping heads against boundary stones to affirm the limits of the local world.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "harvest" in an agricultural context, consider specifying the crop being harvested to provide clarity and precision. For instance, instead of simply saying "the harvest was bountiful", specify "the wheat harvest was bountiful".

Common error

Avoid using "harvest" loosely in contexts where the gathering process is not analogous to collecting crops. While it can be used figuratively, ensure the connection to reaping a result is clear and appropriate. For example, avoid saying "I will harvest ideas" if you mean "I will gather ideas" unless the ideas are the direct result of a specific effort.

Linguistic Context

The word "harvest" functions primarily as both a noun and a verb. As a noun, it refers to the season of gathering crops or the yield itself. As a verb, it describes the act of gathering crops. Ludwig examples demonstrate both usages across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Books

17%

Travel

13%

Less common in

Global Development

10%

Music

2%

Science

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "harvest" is a versatile term functioning as both a noun and a verb, primarily associated with agriculture but also used figuratively to describe reaping the rewards or consequences of actions. Ludwig's AI confirms its correctness and usability in written English.

With a "Very common" frequency, it appears most often in "News & Media", "Books", and "Travel" contexts. While generally neutral in register, it is important to use "harvest" appropriately, specifying crops in agricultural contexts and ensuring clear connections when using it figuratively. Related phrases include "gather crops" and "reap the rewards". By understanding its varied applications, writers can effectively use "harvest" to convey ideas of gathering, collection, and result.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

gather crops

Focuses specifically on the agricultural aspect of collecting crops.

bring in the yield

Highlights the agricultural output being collected.

gather the produce

Focuses on collecting agricultural goods.

reap the rewards

Emphasizes the positive outcome or benefits gained from an effort.

reap what you sow

Highlights the consequences of one's actions, both positive and negative.

secure gains

Focuses on obtaining profits or advantages.

accrue benefits

Emphasizes the gradual accumulation of advantages.

collect data

Refers to the process of gathering information for analysis.

accumulate resources

Implies gathering and storing valuable materials.

glean information

Suggests carefully extracting information from various sources.

FAQs

How can I use "harvest" in a sentence?

You can use "harvest" as a noun to refer to the season or the yield of gathering crops, such as, "The autumn harvest was abundant". As a verb, it means to gather crops, as in, "The farmers are working to harvest the wheat before the storm".

What are some synonyms for "harvest" in an agricultural context?

In agriculture, you can replace "harvest" with terms like "crop", "yield", or "gathering". For example, instead of "a successful harvest", you could say "a bountiful crop".

How is "harvest" used figuratively?

Figuratively, "harvest" can refer to reaping the consequences or rewards of one's actions. For example, "They are now beginning to harvest the fruits of their labor". You can also consider using "reap the rewards" in such contexts.

What is the difference between "harvest" and "collect"?

"Harvest" typically implies gathering something that has grown or developed over time, often in an agricultural sense or in a figurative sense, reaping the benefits of a development. "Collect" is a more general term for gathering things together. For example, one can "collect stamps" but not "harvest stamps", while one can "harvest wheat" but not usually "collect wheat".