congregate

[kong-gri-geyt, kong-gri-git, -geyt]

verb (used without object)

congregated, congregating 

1. to come together; assemble, especially in large numbers.

   People waiting for rooms congregated in the hotel lobby.

   Synonyms: cluster, throng, collect, gather

verb (used with object)

congregated, congregating 

1. to bring together in a crowd, body, or mass; assemble; collect.

adjective

1. congregated; assembled.

2. formed by collecting; collective.

congregate

verb

1. to collect together in a body or crowd; assemble

adjective

1. collected together; assembled

2. relating to collecting; collective

Other Word Forms

• congregativeness noun
• congregative adjective
• congregator noun
• decongregate verb
• noncongregative adjective
• uncongregated adjective
• uncongregative adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of congregate¹

1350–1400; Middle English (adj.) < Latin congregātus (past participle of congregāre to flock together), equivalent to con- con- + greg- (stem of grex ) flock + -ātus -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of congregate¹

C15: from Latin congregāre to collect into a flock, from grex flock

Example Sentences

I love that you can do your comedy show and then congregate at the bar afterwards — just like in New York.

From Los Angeles Times

Having a new, beautifully restored venue to perform and congregate in might sway fans’ and artists’ decisions just a bit.

From Los Angeles Times

Sherman testified that he objected to National Guard involvement in a show-of-force operation in MacArthur Park, where Latino families often congregate.

From Los Angeles Times

Activists in Gaza said journalists often congregated on the upper floor of the hospital and the emergency staircase outside so as to get a phone signal.

From Los Angeles Times

In September, flocks of phalaropes will arrive in Argentina’s plains and gather at Laguna Mar Chiquita, the largest saline lake in the hemisphere, where they will congregate alongside pink flamingos.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bunch up www.thesaurus.com
• converge 
• flock 
• gather 
• swarm 
• throng