gathering

1 of 2

noun

gath·​er·​ing ˈga-t͟hə-riŋ How to pronounce gathering (audio)
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
4
: a gather in cloth
5
: a suppurating swelling : abscess

gathering

2 of 2

present participle of gather entry 1

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
My parents hosted many gatherings, and it was filled with laughter, love, and music. Glenn Garner, Deadline, 11 Jan. 2025 Symington mentored hundreds of seekers via Nature Friends workshops and gatherings. R. Daniel Foster, Forbes, 11 Jan. 2025 An intimate gathering Attendance will be about 65,000 on Thursday night. Tim Reynolds, Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2025 The holidays are all about having fun – parties, family gatherings, and maybe a little indulgence in your favorite things. Matt Rozo, The Mercury News, 8 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for gathering 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of gathering was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near gathering

Cite this Entry

“Gathering.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gathering. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

gathering

noun
1
2
: a pus-filled swelling (as an abscess)
3
: the collecting of food and raw materials from the wild
4
5
: a gather in cloth

Medical Definition

gathering

noun
gath·​er·​ing
: a suppurating swelling : abscess

More from Merriam-Webster on gathering

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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