# collecting

/kəˈɫɛktɪŋ/ (US) · /kəlˈɛktɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/collecting
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. a hobby

noun · CEFR A2

the hobby of finding and keeping specific items that you find interesting.

For teachers: the systematic acquisition, organisation, and preservation of specific items as a leisure pursuit.

- He started collecting old postcards when he was just ten years old.
- Coin collecting requires a significant amount of patience and a keen eye for identifying rare minting errors that increase a specimen's value.

### 2. gathering things

verb · CEFR A2

the act of picking up or gathering things from different places.

For teachers: the act of gathering or accumulating objects or information from various sources.

- The children spent the afternoon collecting seashells along the beach.
- The researchers are currently collecting data from several different hospitals to ensure their study represents a diverse population.

## Examples

- He spends most of his weekends collecting old vinyl records.
- Her interest in stamp collecting began when she inherited her grandfather's extensive international album.
- While some view the pursuit as a mere hobby, serious art collecting requires a deep understanding of historical movements and current market trends.

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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.