Gather: meaning, definitions and examples

Gather is commonly used when bringing together people or things from different places into one location. It can imply a casual or informal get-together.

• The family will gather for a reunion this summer
• She likes to gather seashells at the beach

Assemble is often used in more formal contexts or when referring to the putting together of parts to form a whole. It is also commonly used when discussing events or meetings that have a specific purpose.

• The engineers will assemble the parts to build the machine
• The committee will assemble at 10 AM to discuss the proposal

Collect is typically used when referring to bringing together items, data, or information systematically and often emphasizes the process of accumulation.

• She loves to collect stamps from different countries
• The researcher will collect data for her study

Meet is used for coming together with people, usually implying a face-to-face interaction, discussion, or the occurrence of an appointment.

• They decided to meet at the cafe to discuss their project
• We will meet our new neighbors at the party

Use when collecting things or people in one place, often for an event, meeting, or for general collection.

• They decided to gather all their friends for a surprise party.
• She needs to gather her books from the library.

Specifically used in the context of farming or gathering matured crops from the fields.

• Farmers will harvest the wheat in early summer.
• The apple orchard is ready for the harvest.

Best for selecting or removing fruit, flowers, or other items from where they are growing or when making choices.

• We went to the farm to pick strawberries.
• It's time to pick a winner for the contest.

Usually used metaphorically to mean receiving the results or benefits of one's actions. In agriculture, it means cutting and gathering crops.

• You will reap the rewards of your hard work.
• Farmers are busy reaping the corn this season.

Use this word when referring to bringing people or things together in a general or casual way. It's often used when there is no formal structure to the activity.

• We will gather around the campfire tonight
• Let's gather some flowers for the bouquet

Use this word in more formal contexts, such as schools, organizations, or official meetings. It implies a planned event with a specific purpose.

• The school held an assembly to discuss the new rules
• The assembly of local leaders decided on the community's next project

This is a versatile word used in both formal and informal settings. It can describe anything from a business meeting to a casual get-together.

• We have a team meeting every Monday
• Let's have a meeting to discuss our vacation plans

This word is often used in religious or spiritual contexts. It's typically used to describe a group of people who come together for worship or other religious activities.

• The congregation gathered for Sunday service
• The pastor addressed the congregation with an inspiring sermon