# collect

/kəˈɫɛkt/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/collect
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. to gather things together

verb · CEFR A2

to bring things from different places together into one group.

For teachers: to gather together or amass items from various sources into a single location or group.

- The children helped collect all the toys and put them in the box.
- The researchers spent three months in the field to collect data on local bird populations before beginning their analysis.

### 2. to keep as a hobby

verb · CEFR A2

to buy or find things of a certain type because you enjoy keeping them.

For teachers: to accumulate a number of similar or related objects for recreation, study, or investment.

- My brother used to collect rare coins when he was younger.
- She has spent decades collecting first-edition novels, eventually amassing one of the most significant private libraries in the country.

### 3. to pick up or fetch

verb · CEFR A2 · British English

to go to a place and get someone or something to take them away.

For teachers: to fetch or pick up a person or object from a designated location.

- I need to leave work early to collect my daughter from school.
- The courier is scheduled to collect the signed documents from the reception desk at four o'clock this afternoon.

### 4. to come together

verb · CEFR B1

to gather in one place to form a group or a pile.

For teachers: to assemble or accumulate in a mass or group; often used of substances or people.

- Dust tends to collect under the bed if you do not clean regularly.
- A small crowd began to collect outside the courthouse as news of the verdict spread through the city.

### 5. to receive money

verb · CEFR B1

to ask for and receive money that people owe, like taxes or rent.

For teachers: to receive or compel payment of money due.

- The charity workers went door-to-door to collect donations for the hospital.
- The agency was hired to collect outstanding debts from clients who had failed to respond to initial invoices.

### 6. to control your emotions

verb · CEFR B2

to make an effort to become calm and think clearly.

For teachers: to regain control of one's composure or thoughts, especially after a shock.

- She took a deep breath to collect herself before walking onto the stage.
- He paused for a moment to collect his thoughts, ensuring his response to the hostile question was measured and professional.

### 7. paid by the receiver

adjective · CEFR B2 · American English

describes a phone call or delivery that the person receiving it pays for.

For teachers: denoting a shipment or telecommunications connection for which the recipient, rather than the initiator, pays.

- He didn't have any money, so he made a collect call to his parents.
- The shipping department confirmed that the heavy machinery would be sent via collect freight, with the buyer assuming all transport costs upon arrival.

### 8. a short prayer

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal · Technical

a short prayer used in some Christian church services.

For teachers: a brief liturgical prayer used in Western Christian traditions, typically assigned to a specific day or theme.

- The priest read the collect for the day at the start of the service.
- The congregation stood in silence as the bishop recited the ancient collect, its phrasing preserved from the sixteenth-century prayer book.

## Examples

- I need to collect my dry cleaning after work today.
- The teacher asked the students to collect their books and put them away before the bell rang.
- While many people collect stamps for their historical value, others view the hobby as a way to preserve a tangible connection to a rapidly digitising world.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.