# gathered

/ˈɡæðɝd/ (US) · /ɡˈæðəd/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. collected things

verb · CEFR A2

to have brought things together into one place.

For teachers: the past tense of 'gather', indicating the completed action of collecting or accumulating items into a single location.

- She gathered all the fallen leaves into a large pile in the garden.
- The researchers gathered data from over five hundred participants before beginning the statistical analysis phase of the study.

### 2. people coming together

verb · CEFR A2

to have met or come together in a group.

For teachers: the past tense of 'gather', referring to the assembly of individuals for a specific purpose or event.

- A small crowd gathered outside the shop to wait for the sale.
- The mourners gathered in the chapel, sharing quiet stories of the deceased while they waited for the service to commence.

### 3. understood or inferred

verb · CEFR B2

to have understood something based on the information you have.

For teachers: the past tense of 'gather', used to indicate a conclusion or inference drawn from available evidence.

- I gathered from his email that he wasn't very happy with the news.
- From the director's hesitant tone, the board gathered that the project was significantly behind schedule despite the optimistic reports.

### 4. fabric with folds

adjective · CEFR B2

describes cloth that has been pulled together into small folds.

For teachers: describing fabric that has been drawn into small, regular folds by means of parallel threads.

- The dress had a gathered waist that made it look very elegant.
- The curtains featured a gathered heading, creating a soft drape that complemented the traditional decor of the drawing room.

### 5. spiritually focused

adjective · CEFR C2 · Technical

feeling a deep sense of calm and shared focus during a religious meeting.

For teachers: describing a state of shared spiritual focus or mysticism, particularly within a Quaker meeting for worship.

- The meeting felt very gathered as everyone sat in peaceful silence.
- The clerk noted that it was a deeply gathered meeting, where the silence felt heavy with a shared sense of the divine presence.

## Examples

- The students gathered their books and left the room.
- A large crowd gathered in the town square to hear the mayor's announcement about the new park.
- As the storm clouds gathered on the horizon, the farmers worked quickly to ensure the last of the harvest was safely stored in the barn.

---

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.