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
Li Jun, Footwear News, 2 Nov. 2025
Rich hues of yellow, red, and orange mums dot our porches, and for social gatherings, our fall styles echo the staple colors of the season.
—Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 2 Nov. 2025
Jordan Poyer and Rachel Bush might not be new to the NFL franchise, but 2025 marked their first time hosting the festive gathering.
—Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 31 Oct. 2025
This week, Alphonse spends time with Monaleo and talks about keeping Houston rap tradition alive at a classic family gathering.
—Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gathering
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Noun
Its Keigan Genius Salon revived the intimate cross-disciplinary gatherings of 18th-century Europe — bringing together designers, artists and cultural figures to explore the intersection of fashion, architecture and art.
—Li Jun, Footwear News, 2 Nov. 2025
Rich hues of yellow, red, and orange mums dot our porches, and for social gatherings, our fall styles echo the staple colors of the season.
—Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 2 Nov. 2025
Jordan Poyer and Rachel Bush might not be new to the NFL franchise, but 2025 marked their first time hosting the festive gathering.
—Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 31 Oct. 2025
This week, Alphonse spends time with Monaleo and talks about keeping Houston rap tradition alive at a classic family gathering.
—Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 30 Oct. 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 4 Nov. 2025.
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