gathering
B2Neutral to Formal. Common in both spoken and written language.
Definition
Meaning
A group of people coming together for a shared purpose or activity.
The action or process of collecting, accumulating, or assembling things, people, or information; also a small fold or pleat in fabric.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a noun. Refers both to the event/group (countable) and the act of collecting (uncountable). The sense of a 'fabric pleat' is technical/specialised.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major differences in core meaning. Minor usage frequency in compound nouns (e.g., 'gathering storm' is equally common).
Connotations
Equally neutral in both varieties. Slightly more formal than 'get-together'.
Frequency
Equally frequent in both UK and US corpora.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[adjective] + gatheringgathering + of + [people/things]gathering + for + [purpose]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A gathering storm (impending trouble)”
- “Gathering dust (unused)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to meetings, conferences, or the collection of market intelligence.
Academic
Used for data collection in research or scholarly conferences.
Everyday
Common for describing family events, parties, or informal meetings.
Technical
In computing: 'data gathering'; in sewing: 'a gathering stitch'.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- They are gathering for the village fete.
- He's been gathering mushrooms in the forest.
American English
- Everyone gathered for the potluck dinner.
- The team is gathering feedback from users.
adjective
British English
- The gathering clouds suggested rain was imminent.
- She felt a gathering sense of unease.
American English
- The gathering storm forced the game's cancellation.
- There was gathering momentum for the policy change.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- We had a small family gathering for my birthday.
- The children are gathering sticks for the fire.
- The town hall meeting was a lively gathering of local residents.
- He attended a social gathering organised by his new company.
- The annual gathering of experts provides a forum for sharing groundbreaking research.
- The gathering of forensic evidence took several days.
- The clandestine gathering of dissidents was swiftly broken up by the authorities.
- Her poetry reflects a profound gathering of insights from a lifetime of observation.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of people GATHERed IN a circle, forming a GATHER-ING.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMING TOGETHER IS GATHERING (e.g., 'clouds gathering', 'storm gathering', 'crowd gathering').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не путать с 'собирание' как абстрактный процесс. 'Gathering' часто подразумевает результат — уже собравшуюся группу.
- В значении 'вечеринка' — обычно скромнее и менее шумная, чем 'party'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'gathering' for a very large, organised protest (better: 'rally', 'demonstration').
- Using plural 'gatherings' when uncountable (e.g., 'the gathering of data' not 'the gatherings of data').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'gathering' LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is neutral. It can be used in formal contexts ('an ecclesiastical gathering') but is equally common in everyday speech ('a little gathering at my house'). More informal synonyms include 'get-together' or 'meet-up'.
Yes. While the primary meaning involves people, it is commonly used for the collection of objects, information, or even abstract things ('a gathering gloom', 'data gathering').
A 'meeting' often implies a more structured event with a specific agenda (e.g., business meeting). A 'gathering' is broader and can be social, ceremonial, or informal, with less emphasis on formal proceedings.
Use the noun 'gathering' to name the event or group itself ('The gathering starts at 8 pm'). Use the verb 'gather' to describe the action of coming together or collecting ('People will gather at the park').