📒 to come together, or bring people together, in one place to form a group
- A crowd soon gathered.
- + adv./prep. His supporters gathered in the main square.
- Can you all gather round? I've got something to tell you.
📒 to bring things together that have been spread around
- gather something People slowly gathered their belongings and left the hall.
- I waited while he gathered up his papers.
- gather something together She gathered her things together and got to her feet.
📒 to collect information from different sources
- to gather information/data/intelligence
- Detectives have spent months gathering evidence.
- We’ve been collecting data from various sources.
📒 to collect plants, fruit, etc. from a wide area
- to gather wild flowers
- They lived in the forest, gathering mushrooms and berries to eat.
📒 to pick or cut and collect crops to be stored
- It was late August and the harvest had been safely gathered in.
📒 to believe or understand that something is true because of information or evidence you have
- gather (that)… I gather (that) you wanted to see me.
- I gather from your letter that you're not enjoying your job.
- gather (something) ‘There's been a delay.’ ‘I gathered that.’
📒 to increase in speed, force, etc.
- The truck gathered speed.
- During the 1980s the green movement gathered momentum.
- Thousands of these machines are gathering dust (= not being used) in stockrooms.
📒 to gradually increase in number or amount
- The storm clouds were gathering.
- the gathering gloom of a winter’s afternoon
📒 to pull a piece of clothing tighter to your body
- gather something around you/something He gathered his cloak around him.
- gather something up She gathered up her skirts and ran.
📒 to pull parts of a piece of clothing together in folds and sew them in place
- She wore a skirt gathered (in) at the waist.
📒 to pull somebody towards you and put your arms around them
- She gathered the child in her arms and held him close.
- He gathered her to him.
- He gathered her close and kissed her.
📒 to prepare yourself to do something that requires effort
- I sat down for a moment to gather my strength.
- She was still trying to gather her thoughts together when the door opened.
- Fortunately the short delay gave him time to gather himself.
📒 to get your breath back after an effort
- He paused to gather his breath.
📒 to not be used for a long time
- Play your guitar that's gathering dust, or pull out the old tennis racket for a match.
- You may already have an old laptop that is collecting dust but otherwise usable.
📒 a person who moves from place to place, job to job, etc. does not have a lot of money, possessions or friends but is free from responsibilities