Word
congregate
Phoneticscon·gre·gate, stress on the first syllable
/ˈkɑŋɡɹəˌɡeɪt/
Definitions
01to gather together
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to come together in a group, usually in a public place.
v. to assemble or gather into a crowd or group. Intransitive in modern usage, though historically used transitively to mean 'to bring together'.
“Crowds began to congregate in the town square to hear the music.”
“During the festival, thousands of pilgrims congregate at the shrine, creating a dense and vibrant atmosphere in the narrow streets.”
02animals gathering
C1 · Advanced Science Technical
v. when animals or birds gather together in one place.
v. to gather or flock together in a specific location for breeding, feeding, or migration.
“In the winter, many species of birds congregate near the warm coast.”
“Marine biologists observed that the sharks tend to congregate around the reef during the summer months to feed on migrating fish.”
Real-World Examples
“Choe said these effects could help explain why poisoned ants congregate near water, though more research is required to prove that idea.” “The western blacklegged tick, Ixodes pacificus , is found along the Pacific Coast, congregating mainly in California, Oregon and Washington, and it also carries Lyme disease and anaplasmosis.” Etymology
The adjective is first attested in 1400–1450, in Middle English, the verb c. 1513; from Middle English congregat(e) (“(of people) banded together; (of liquids) accumulated; (of muscles) contracted; (of wounds) closed up”), borrowed from Latin congregātus, perfect passive participle of congregō (“to congregate”) (see -ate (etymology 1, 2 and 3), from con- (“with, together”) + gregō (“to collect into a flock”), from grex (“flock, herd”). See gregarious and egregious. Participial usage of the adjective up until Early Modern English.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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