gregariously
gregariously — adverb
1. acting with an open, warm manner toward others because you genuinely enjoy their
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.
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.
The children played gregariously in the park, inviting anyone who walked past to join their game.
Emre laughed gregariously and clapped his friend on the shoulder after the funny camping story.
Lukas gregariously offered his seat to an elderly woman on the crowded bus, then started a cheerful conversation.
- sociably
nearly identical; 'gregariously' carries a warmer, more energetic tone
- outgoingly
more informal and modern
- companionably
emphasises ease and comfort with others
- reclusively
in a withdrawn, isolated manner
文法句型
verb + gregariously
用法筆記
Commonly paired with verbs describing social interaction: talk, laugh, welcome, chat, invite, greet.
常見錯誤
2. living, moving, or growing together in groups or colonies rather than alone, use
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.
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.
The coral polyps grow gregariously, forming vast reef structures visible from the surface.
Unlike most cats, lions behave gregariously and hunt together in coordinated prides.
Penguins huddle gregariously during the Antarctic winter to share body heat and survive the cold.
- in colonies
more precise for insects and marine organisms
- communally
broader, can apply to humans
- in herds
specific to mammals
- solitarily
living or acting alone
- individually
each by itself, not in a group
文法句型
verb + gregariously
用法筆記
Primarily a technical term in zoology and botany. Not used for casual social behaviour — use sense 1 for that.
常見錯誤
gregariously — adjective
- gregariouslypositive
- more gregariouslycomparative
- most gregariouslysuperlative
1. fond of being with other people; enjoying social activities, parties, and group
fond of being with other people; enjoying social activities, parties, and group conversations rather than spending time alone.
Maeve is the most gregarious person in our office, always organising birthday lunches and after-work drinks.
predicative: be + gregarious + person/type
The tour guide's gregarious nature put even the shyest travellers at ease.
Nikhil is not especially gregarious, but at book club he eagerly talks with everyone about novels and poetry.
Hiro's gregarious personality made him a natural choice for the student council president role.
Dewi was known as a gregarious host who welcomed every guest as if they were an old friend.
- unsociable
preferring to be alone or avoiding company
- withdrawn
shy or reserved, avoiding interaction
文法句型
be gregarious
gregarious + noun
用法筆記
Stronger than 'friendly' — a gregarious person actively seeks out social interaction rather than merely being pleasant when approached.
常見錯誤
2. relating to the human wish or drive to form and stay in social groups — for exam
relating to the human wish or drive to form and stay in social groups — for example, the urge to join clubs, teams, or communities.
Dr. Chen's study tracked the gregarious instincts of 200 teenagers who joined soccer teams and debate clubs after school.
attributive: gregarious + instinct/behaviour
Harper's research examined the gregarious behaviour of book club members who moved their meetings to Zoom during the lockdown.
Professor Okonkwo argued that gregarious tendencies often come from growing up in a big family rather than a small one.
Tamar noticed a strong gregarious urge in volunteers who kept organising group dinners long after the beach clean-up ended.
- social
broader and more common; less technical
- herding
more specific to animal behaviour studies
- affiliative
technical term in psychology for attachment-seeking
文法句型
gregarious + noun
用法筆記
Largely restricted to academic or analytical contexts such as sociology, anthropology, and psychology. Distinguish from sense 1: sense 1 describes an individual's personality; sense 2 describes the social mechanism or drive behind group formation.
常見錯誤
3. growing or living in clusters, colonies, or closely spaced groups rather than as
growing or living in clusters, colonies, or closely spaced groups rather than as isolated individuals, used of plants that form dense patches and animals that build neighbouring nests.
The salt marsh grass is gregarious, forming thick green mats along the tidal creeks.
predicative: plant species + is gregarious
Inês studied gregarious moss species that cover entire forest floors in a single soft layer.
Gregarious seabirds like gannets pack their nests so tightly that neighbours can almost touch.
The farmer worried about the gregarious weed that was spreading rapidly across the field.
Layla noticed that the bamboo in her garden was gregarious — it sent up new shoots in dense clusters every spring.
- colonial
more common in biology texts for animals
- clustered
describes physical arrangement, not species tendency
- clump-forming
used in horticulture for plants that grow in tight groups
文法句型
gregarious + noun
be gregarious
用法筆記
Applied to species that naturally occur in clumps or colonies. Not used for social animals in general — use sense 2 for group behaviour and this sense specifically for spatial clustering.