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
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Noun
Kennedy has long suspected the race may also be one of the largest annual gatherings of deputies linked to the department’s notorious tattooed subgroups. Keri Blakinger, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2025 In an Oval Office press gathering Thursday, Trump was asked directly about port workers losing their jobs because of lack of trade. The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2025 My father might have joked about that at a family gathering but not at a business meeting with a stranger. Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 11 May 2025 Down a long hall is the Youth Leadership Council, a plenary of teens who brainstorm ideas for these Wednesday gatherings. Paul Solotaroff, Rolling Stone, 11 May 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

Cite this Entry

“Gathering.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gathering. Accessed 20 May. 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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