# congregate

/ˈkɑŋɡɹəˌɡeɪt/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/congregate
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. to gather together

verb · CEFR B2

to come together in a group, usually in a public place.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. animals gathering

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

when animals or birds gather together in one place.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The birds congregate at the lake every morning.
- During the festival, thousands of people congregate in the central square to watch the traditional dance performances.
- The study observed how the local population tends to congregate in the town's central park during the summer months, creating a vibrant social hub for the community.

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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.