collect 1 of 2

1
as in to contain
to gain emotional or mental control of applicants should collect their thoughts while waiting to be interviewed

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2
as in to accumulate
to gradually form into a layer, pile, or mass dust has been collecting under my bed for years

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
as in to compile
to bring together from several sources into a single volume or list collected the author's early short stories, which were originally published in several obscure sci-fi magazines

Synonyms & Similar Words

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collect

2 of 2

noun

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb collect differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of collect are assemble, congregate, and gather. While all these words mean "to come or bring together into a group, mass, or unit," collect often implies careful selection or orderly arrangement.

collected books on gardening

When can assemble be used instead of collect?

The synonyms assemble and collect are sometimes interchangeable, but assemble implies an ordered union or organization of persons or things often for a definite purpose.

experts assembled for a conference

Where would congregate be a reasonable alternative to collect?

In some situations, the words congregate and collect are roughly equivalent. However, congregate implies a spontaneous flocking together into a crowd or huddle.

congregating under a shelter

When might gather be a better fit than collect?

Although the words gather and collect have much in common, gather is the most general term for bringing or coming together from a spread-out or scattered state.

a crowd quickly gathered

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of collect
Verb
But Fanatics’ challenge is converting a nation where collectibles has only reached the mainstream through sticker book collections for the Premier League, UEFA, and FIFA competitions since the 1970s, whereas trading cards have been collected in America dating back to the 1800s. Andrew MacKie, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2025 One of my nerdy little hobbies is collecting quotations from the famous and not-so-famous about good writing. Chris John Amorosino, Hartford Courant, 26 Apr. 2025
Noun
Protecting workers The data neurotechnology collects could be used in ways that help or hurt the worker, and the potential for abuse is significant. Paul Brandt-Rauf, The Conversation, 7 Jan. 2025 The technetium-99m flows into a person’s blood and collects, briefly, in parts of the body such as the heart, lungs, or a cancerous tumor. Chris Baraniuk, WIRED, 27 Nov. 2024 See All Example Sentences for collect
Recent Examples of Synonyms for collect
Verb
  • After the fire is fully contained, the next step is to control it.
    CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 21 Apr. 2025
  • Fires were contained, and no casualties were reported.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 20 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The rookies this season accumulated 0.054 win shares per 48 minutes—the ninth lowest of the past 40 seasons, but still significantly above recent seasons such as 2014, 2015 and 2017, as well as the infamously unproductive 2001 cohort.
    Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 16 Apr. 2025
  • The defender never accumulated more than five sacks in a season at Georgia and often struggled to get around quality offensive tackles.
    Arick Wierson, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The Billboard 200 chart ranks the most popular albums of the week in the U.S. based on multi-metric consumption as measured in equivalent album units, compiled by Luminate.
    Keith Caulfield, Billboard, 27 Apr. 2025
  • This includes using various state and federal databases to find, extract and compile data on costs related to the program, labor, healthcare, unemployment, welfare and other factors.
    Maya Miller, Sacbee.com, 27 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • In a video posted online, Jakes is seen pausing during his hour-long sermon, before shaking suddenly as other church members gathered around him, according to USA TODAY's previous reporting.
    Jonathan Limehouse, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2025
  • When Ayyub was a child, a group of men gathered every morning for prayer and martial arts in a field down the street from her home.
    Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • In February 2024, Francis met with the trustees of the University of Notre Dame, a Catholic institution in Indiana.
    Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 22 Apr. 2025
  • The Hall of Fame voting panel will meet May 20 in Charlotte and determine the Class of 2026.
    Shane Connuck, Charlotte Observer, 22 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Since Trump’s invocation of the act, there have been various legal battles over the administration’s actions.
    Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 19 Apr. 2025
  • Moments after the act's invocation, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that around 250 people, some allegedly members of the MS-13 and Tren de Aragua gangs, were sent to El Salvador under a $6 million deal with its President Nayib Bukele.
    Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • China’s Politburo, composed of high-level members of the ruling Chinese Communist Party, tends to lay out broad policy directives.
    Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 25 Apr. 2025
  • The photo offered a closer look at Meyer's bridal attire: an off-white minidress composed of a sheer top and a satin skirt.
    Ingrid Vasquez, People.com, 25 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Foreign companies producing goods in the U.S. are also affected, like Airbus, which assembles some of its narrow-body planes in Alabama, but relies on imports.
    Gabrielle Fonrouge,Annika Kim Constantino,Leslie Josephs,Ari Levy,Amelia Lucas,Melissa Repko,Hugh Son,Michael Wayland, CNBC, 23 Apr. 2025
  • The mission will be the ninth crew mission to Tiangong, and the sixth visit since the three-module orbital outpost was fully assembled in October 2022.
    Tariq Malik, Space.com, 23 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Collect.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/collect. Accessed 1 May. 2025.

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