gath·er·ing
ˈga-t͟hə-riŋ 
ˈgat͟h-
plural gatherings
1
2
: the collecting of food or raw materials from the wild
Hunting and gathering also added to the food supply. Wild fruits, berries and mollusks were gathered …—
Barbara A. Leitch
Barbara A. Leitch… peoples who raise domesticated animals and who do not depend on hunting, gathering, or the planting of their own crops …—Marvin Harris
Marvin Harris3
4
: a gather in cloth
5
: a suppurating swelling : abscess
gathering
2 of 2present participle of gather entry 1
Examples of gathering in a Sentence
Noun
I see my cousins only at occasional family gatherings.
dinner parties and other social gatherings
a gathering of political leaders
Recent Examples on the Web
Amy Panos, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 June 2025
For many younger people, these effects were amplified by the pandemic (sorry to remind you), which forced us to replace classes, meetings and other physical gatherings with virtual meetings and digital communication.
—Chris Perry, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025
In a largely courteous gathering of a half dozen of California’s top gubernatorial candidates, four Democrats and two Republicans agreed that despite the state boasting one of the world’s largest economies, too many of its residents are suffering because of the affordability crisis in the state.
—Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 5 June 2025
The administration also pointed to a recent terrorist attack in Boulder, Colorado, carried out by an immigrant from Egypt who threw gasoline bombs into a gathering of pro-Israel demonstrators, as a catalyst for the policy (however, Egypt isn’t one of the countries on the restricted list).
—Bailey Berg, AFAR Media, 5 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for gathering
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Noun
Since a dining room is a place for gathering and celebrating, don't go boring with your light fixture.
—Amy Panos, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 June 2025
For many younger people, these effects were amplified by the pandemic (sorry to remind you), which forced us to replace classes, meetings and other physical gatherings with virtual meetings and digital communication.
—Chris Perry, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025
In a largely courteous gathering of a half dozen of California’s top gubernatorial candidates, four Democrats and two Republicans agreed that despite the state boasting one of the world’s largest economies, too many of its residents are suffering because of the affordability crisis in the state.
—Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 5 June 2025
The administration also pointed to a recent terrorist attack in Boulder, Colorado, carried out by an immigrant from Egypt who threw gasoline bombs into a gathering of pro-Israel demonstrators, as a catalyst for the policy (however, Egypt isn’t one of the countries on the restricted list).
—Bailey Berg, AFAR Media, 5 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for gathering
Cite this Entry
“Gathering.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gathering. Accessed 8 Jun. 2025.
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