gregariously

IPA/ɡrɪˈɡeəriəsli/
IPA/ɡrɪˈɡeriəsli/

gregariously — adverb

1. acting with an open, warm manner toward others because you genuinely enjoy their

1.adverbB2
Definition

acting with an open, warm manner toward others because you genuinely enjoy their company — for instance, talking easily with strangers, laughing freely in conversations, or seeking out group activities.

Example

Nala gregariously welcomed every new neighbour with a basket of fruit and a warm smile.

verb + gregariously for social behaviour

At the conference, Sofia moved gregariously from table to table, introducing herself to strangers.

Common collocations
  • gregariously + greeted
  • gregariously + chatted
  • gregariously + welcomed
  • gregariously + laughed
Synonyms
  • sociably

    nearly identical; 'gregariously' carries a warmer, more energetic tone

  • outgoingly

    more informal and modern

  • companionably

    emphasises ease and comfort with others

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

verb + gregariously

Usage Note

Commonly paired with verbs describing social interaction: talk, laugh, welcome, chat, invite, greet.

Common Mistakes

She gregariously sat alone in her room.
She gregariously chatted with everyone at the party.
'gregariously' describes outgoing social behaviour, not just being in a place.

2. living, moving, or growing together in groups or colonies rather than alone, use

2.adverbC1
Definition

living, moving, or growing together in groups or colonies rather than alone, used especially of animals, birds, and plants that naturally form clusters or herds.

Example

The birds nested gregariously along the cliff, with hundreds of nests packed into a single stretch of rock.

biological usage: living in dense colonies

These ants live gregariously in enormous underground colonies that can span several metres.

Common collocations
  • nest gregariously
  • live gregariously
  • grow gregariously
  • huddle gregariously
Synonyms
Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

verb + gregariously

Usage Note

Primarily a technical term in zoology and botany. Not used for casual social behaviour — use sense 1 for that.

Common Mistakes

My friends and I ate lunch gregariously.
The sheep grazed gregariously on the hillside.
for animals or plants growing in groups, use this sense; for people being sociable, use sense 1.

gregariously — adjective

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four adjectives describe a person who enjoys being with others, but they differ in nuance. "Sociable" is the most neutral and widely used term — it simply means liking company without specifying energy level. "Outgoing" emphasises ease and confidence when meeting strangers, and is common in informal American English. "Convivial" carries a warmer, more festive tone, often describing someone who makes a party or dinner lively. "Gregarious" is the most formal and least frequent of the set; it suggests an almost instinctual drive to seek out companionship. A gregarious person doesn't just tolerate group settings — they actively crave them. Example: 'Lily is sociable enough at work, but her brother Theo is truly gregarious — he organises weekly gatherings and seems uncomfortable eating lunch alone.'

sociable ↗outgoing ↗convivial ↗gregarious ↗

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

From Latin 'grex' (genitive 'gregis'), meaning 'flock' or 'herd'. The adjective 'gregarius' originally meant 'belonging to a flock' in Latin. English borrowed it through French as 'gregarious' in the 1600s, first for animals that live in herds, then later for people who enjoy groups. The '-ly' suffix turns the adjective into an adverb meaning 'in a gregarious manner'.

First known use

1668

1668, in the meaning defined at sense 1b