gathering

1 of 2

noun

gath·​er·​ing ˈga-t͟hə-riŋ 

ˈgat͟h-

plural gatherings

1

: a coming together of people in a group (as for social, religious, or political purposes) : assembly, meeting

an informal gathering

a gathering of world leaders

planned a big family gathering

2

: the collecting of food or raw materials from the wild

Hunting and gathering also added to the food supply. Wild fruits, berries and mollusks were gathered …

—Barbara A. Leitch

… peoples who raise domesticated animals and who do not depend on hunting, gathering, or the planting of their own crops …

—Marvin Harris

3

: collection, compilation

4

: a gather in cloth

5

: a suppurating swelling : abscess

gathering

2 of 2

present participle of gather entry 1

Synonyms

Noun

• assemblage
• assembly
• conference
• congregation
• convocation
• ingathering
• meeting
• muster

Examples of gathering in a Sentence

Noun

I see my cousins only at occasional family gatherings.

dinner parties and other social gatherings

a gathering of political leaders

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Brutus makes more than 600 appearances annually across sporting events, fundraisers and other gatherings. —Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 31 Dec. 2024

However, with their five children and 10 grandchildren now scattered across the country — from Florida to Texas, California to Ohio — the couple has grown accustomed to smaller gatherings in recent years. —Tabitha Parent, People.com, 31 Dec. 2024

Afterward, the musicians, promoter Bill Graham, and a few local music-biz associates were driven (accompanied by state troopers) to the governor’s mansion for an after-show gathering. —David Browne, Rolling Stone, 29 Dec. 2024

Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin, right, addresses a gathering for the signing of a peace treaty between Egypt and Israel, as Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, left, and U.S. President Jimmy Carter watch, on the White House lawn, March 26, 1979. —Marty Steinberg, CNBC, 29 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English gaderyng, gederunge, going back to Old English gadrung, gædrung, gegaderung, gegadrung "joining, union, assembly," from gadrian, gaderian "to join, unite, gather entry 1" + -ung -ing entry 3

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

gathering

noun

1

: assembly sense 1, meeting

2

: a pus-filled swelling (as an abscess)

3

: the collecting of food and raw materials from the wild

4

: collection sense 2a

5

: a gather in cloth

Medical Definition

gathering

noun

gath·​er·​ing

: a suppurating swelling : abscess