gathered
gathered — verb
- gatheredpresent simple I / you / we / they
- gathereds3rd person singular
- gathereding-ing form
- gatherededpast simple
1. to bring a number of things into one place, often picking them up one by one fro
to bring a number of things into one place, often picking them up one by one from different spots
Sivan gathered all the fallen apples into a large wooden basket.
gather + object + into + place
The teacher asked the children to gather their books before the bell rang.
Volunteers gathered plastic bottles from the beach all Saturday morning.
gather + object + from + place
Emre gathered firewood while his friends set up the small green tent.
- gather firewood
- gather leaves
- gather information
- gather evidence
- scatter
to spread things apart instead of bringing them together
Grammar Patterns
gather + object
gather + object + from + place
Usage Note
Object is usually a set of separate items (leaves, papers, coins) rather than one single thing. Often followed by 'up' or 'from'.
Common Mistakes
2. to take a person gently into your arms and hold them close, in a tender or lovin
to take a person gently into your arms and hold them close, in a tender or loving manner
Linh gathered her crying daughter into her arms and rocked her softly.
gather + someone + into + one's arms
The nurse gently gathered the sleeping baby and carried him to the cot.
Padma gathered the frightened puppy close to her chest during the storm.
After the long flight, Diego gathered his small son in a warm hug.
- gather someone in one's arms
- gather a child close
Grammar Patterns
gather + someone + in one's arms
Usage Note
Object is usually a person or animal, and the scene is tender. Distinguish from sense 1, where objects are inanimate things being collected.
3. to slowly grow greater in speed, force, or power as time passes
to slowly grow greater in speed, force, or power as time passes
The train gathered speed as it left the small village station.
gather speed / gather pace
The small protest gathered strength after a local newspaper printed photos of the march.
By noon the wind had gathered force and bent the tall palm trees.
The runner gathered pace on the final lap and passed two rivals.
- gather speed
- gather pace
- gather momentum
- gather force
- slow
to lose speed or force
Grammar Patterns
gather + speed/pace/strength
Usage Note
Subject is usually a moving thing or a growing process (a train, a storm, a movement). Common with 'speed', 'pace', 'force', 'momentum'.
4. to make an inner effort to find the courage or strength you need for something h
to make an inner effort to find the courage or strength you need for something hard
Ife gathered her courage and finally asked the manager for a raise.
gather courage / gather strength
Before the speech, Christopher gathered his thoughts and took a slow breath.
The climber paused to gather strength before the last steep rock face.
Nora gathered all her courage and stepped onto the dark stage.
- gather courage
- gather strength
- gather one's thoughts
- gather nerve
Grammar Patterns
gather + courage/strength/thoughts
Usage Note
Object is an abstract inner resource (courage, strength, thoughts, nerve). Distinguish from sense 5, which is about regaining calm rather than building up effort.
5. to bring your own emotions back under control so you feel steady, often when ups
to bring your own emotions back under control so you feel steady, often when upset or facing a hard task
Lauren sat down for a moment to gather herself after the bad news.
gather + oneself (reflexive)
Michael gathered himself, wiped his eyes, and walked back into the meeting.
The actor paused backstage to gather herself before the final scene.
After the loud crash, Samir took a minute to gather himself in the hall.
- gather oneself
- gather one's composure
Grammar Patterns
gather + oneself
Usage Note
Almost always reflexive ('gather oneself'). Distinguish from sense 4: this is about calming down again, not building courage for a task.
6. if a group of people or animals gathers, its members move toward the same spot a
if a group of people or animals gathers, its members move toward the same spot and crowd together
A large crowd gathered outside the cinema to meet the young actor.
people gather + outside / around
Every winter, hundreds of birds gather on the frozen village lake.
Indra's whole family gathered in the kitchen to cook the holiday meal.
Students gathered around the noticeboard to read the exam results.
gather around + place
- a crowd gathers
- gather around
- gather outside
- assemble
more formal; often for a planned meeting
- congregate
formal; suggests a larger crowd in one spot
- disperse
to move apart and leave in different directions
Grammar Patterns
people + gather
gather + around/outside
Usage Note
Subject is people or animals (plural or a group word like 'crowd'). Often followed by 'around', 'outside', 'in', or a place.
7. to slowly become thicker, denser, or closer together, especially clouds or darkn
to slowly become thicker, denser, or closer together, especially clouds or darkness
Dark clouds gathered over the hills just before the heavy rain began.
clouds gather + over + place
As night fell, shadows gathered in the corners of the old library.
Thick fog gathered along the river and hid the small fishing boats.
Storm clouds gathered quickly, so the farmers hurried to bring in the hay.
- clouds gather
- fog gathers
- shadows gather
- clear
when clouds or fog go away
Grammar Patterns
clouds/darkness + gather
Usage Note
Subject is usually clouds, fog, shadows, or darkness. Distinguish from sense 6: this is about weather or dimness thickening, not people forming a group.
8. to come to believe something is true based on what someone has said or done
to come to believe something is true based on what someone has said or done
From her tired voice, Eri gathered that the long meeting had gone badly.
gather + that-clause
I gather from your email that you will arrive on Tuesday afternoon.
gather + from + source
The detective gathered that the visitor had left in a great hurry.
From the empty plates, the host gathered that everyone had enjoyed the soup.
- gather that
- gather from
- I gather
- infer
formal; reaching a conclusion from evidence
- understand
broader; lacks the sense of working it out from clues
Grammar Patterns
gather + that-clause
gather + from + source
Usage Note
Only this sense takes a that-clause. Often opens with 'I gather' or 'from X, I gather'. Subject draws a conclusion from indirect signs.
Common Mistakes
9. to bunch fabric into many tiny folds by stitching along it and then tightening t
to bunch fabric into many tiny folds by stitching along it and then tightening the thread
The tailor gathered the soft cotton at the waist to make a fuller skirt.
gather + cloth + at + place
Élise gathered the thin silk along the sleeve to add a gentle ruffle.
The dressmaker gathered the curtain fabric so it hung in neat folds.
Henry gathered the loose linen at the collar before sewing the final seam.
- gather the fabric
- gather at the waist
- gathered skirt
Grammar Patterns
gather + cloth/fabric
Usage Note
Sewing term. Object is cloth or fabric; often 'gather at the waist/sleeve/collar'. Different from senses 1 and 10, which involve collecting or pulling cloth around a body.
10. to draw a loose garment such as a coat or blanket snugly against yourself, usual
to draw a loose garment such as a coat or blanket snugly against yourself, usually to keep warm
Hyun gathered her thick coat around her as the cold wind blew harder.
gather + clothing + around oneself
The old man gathered his blanket close and leaned toward the warm fire.
Standing on the ferry deck, the traveller gathered her scarf against the spray.
The shepherd gathered his heavy cloak around him during the freezing night.
- gather a coat around
- gather a blanket close
Grammar Patterns
gather + clothing + around oneself
Usage Note
Object is clothing (coat, blanket, cloak, scarf), almost always followed by 'around' plus a reflexive pronoun. Distinguish from sense 9, which is a sewing technique.
gathered — noun
1. a small fold made in cloth by pulling a thread through it and drawing it tight
a small fold made in cloth by pulling a thread through it and drawing it tight
The tailor pressed each gather in the skirt so the folds sat flat.
a gather in + cloth
Tiny gathers along the collar gave the white shirt a soft, full shape.
The pattern showed where to sew the gathers near the waist of the dress.
Élise checked that every gather in the sleeve was the same width.
- a gather in the cloth
- sew gathers
Grammar Patterns
a gather in + cloth
Usage Note
Countable sewing term, usually plural ('gathers'). The result of the verb sense 9 (sewing cloth into folds).
2. one act of collecting scattered things into one place at one time
one act of collecting scattered things into one place at one time
The harvest gather of the ripe grapes took the whole family three days.
a gather of + things
After the storm, the village held a quiet gather of driftwood along the shore.
The autumn gather of fallen nuts fed the village squirrels all winter.
A careful gather of the scattered papers restored the old report.
- a gather of
- collection
the more common everyday noun for this idea
- gathering
the usual noun form for an act or event of coming together
Grammar Patterns
a gather of + things
Usage Note
Formal and rare as a noun; the everyday choice is 'gathering'. Distinguish from sense 1, which is a physical fold in cloth.
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/1
All four words describe bringing things together, but they differ in effort and scale. 'Gather' is the most physical and everyday — you gather leaves, firewood, or a crowd, often picking items up one by one from different places. 'Collect' overlaps closely but can suggest a planned, purposeful set, such as collecting stamps or collecting data for a study. 'Amass' is formal and stresses a large, growing quantity built over time — you amass a fortune or amass evidence, rarely amass leaves. 'Accumulate' is also formal and often happens gradually or without direct effort, as dust accumulates or debts accumulate. So you would gather sticks for a fire, collect coins as a hobby, amass great wealth over decades, and watch paperwork accumulate on your desk.
Common collocations
Nouns
- gather information
- gather evidence
- gather speed
- gather a crowd
Adverbs
- gather quickly
- gather slowly
- gather together
Phrases
- gather one's thoughts
- gather one's courage
- gather speed
Prepositions
- gather from
- gather around
- gather into
- gather up
Etymology
'Gather' comes from the Old English verb 'gaderian', meaning to bring together or unite, which is linked to the word 'together'. The same root gave several Germanic languages similar verbs for collecting or joining. Over centuries the meaning spread from the literal act of picking things up into many figures of speech — gathering speed, gathering courage, or gathering that something is true from clues.
First known use
12th century
12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1 Noun