Gather vs. Together — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Updated on May 2, 2024
"Gather" refers to the act of collecting or bringing things or people into one place, while "together" describes the state of being in one place or united.
Difference Between Gather and Together
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Gather typically implies an action where an individual or group collects items or assembles people, such as gathering wood for a fire or gathering a team for a meeting. On the other hand, together is used to describe the condition or state where things or people are already assembled or united, like saying friends are sitting together at a cafe.
In terms of physical actions, to gather can mean to physically bring things into one location, emphasizing the process of accumulation. Whereas, together can describe a static situation, implying a fixed arrangement or cohesion among elements already in proximity.
When discussing social interactions, gather often refers to the act of organizing or calling people to come into a group, suggesting an effort to unite. Together, however, describes the outcome of such efforts, highlighting the unity or collective presence without implying the action taken to achieve it.
The verb "gather" can also have metaphorical uses, such as gathering one's thoughts or gathering momentum, where it describes the process of collecting intangible items or concepts. Together, conversely, is frequently used in expressions like "working together" or "living together," signifying a partnership or cooperative arrangement.
In usage, gather might require an object, something that is being collected; for example, gather stones, gather information. Together does not function in this way and typically acts as an adverb or adjective, enhancing the meaning of coexistence or joint action, as in moving together or growing together.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Act of collecting or assembling
State of being united or in proximity
Usage Type
Verb
Adverb or adjective
Example Contexts
Collecting items, assembling people
Describing unity or proximity
Common Phrases
"Gather your belongings"
"Stay together"
Emotional Connotation
Often active, requires effort
Passive, implies harmony or cooperation
Compare with Definitions
Gather
To draw parts of something to the center.
She gathered the fabric to create pleats.
Together
Into companionship or association.
They came together for the cause.
Gather
To collect information or data.
Researchers gather data through experiments.
Together
With each other, accompanying.
We walked together to the park.
Gather
To bring together or assemble from various places.
She gathered the children for lunch.
Together
In agreement or harmony.
The team worked together seamlessly.
Gather
To summon or muster.
He gathered his courage to speak out.
Together
In a combined manner, collectively.
Together, they lifted the heavy furniture.
Gather
To come together or accumulate.
Clouds began to gather in the sky.
Together
At the same time, simultaneously.
They finished the project together.
Gather
Come together; assemble or accumulate
As soon as a crowd gathered, the police came
Together
In or into a single group, mass, or place
We gather together.
Gather
Bring together and take in from scattered places or sources
Information that we have gathered about people
Together
In or into contact
The cars crashed together. She mixed the chemicals together.
Gather
Increase in (speed, force, etc.)
The destroyer gathered speed
Together
In association with or in relationship to one another; mutually or reciprocally
Getting along together.
Gather
Infer; understand
I gathered that they were old friends
Together
By joint or cooperative effort
We ironed the entire load of clothes together.
Gather
Summon up (a mental or physical attribute) for a purpose
She lay gathering her thoughts together
He gathered himself for a tremendous leap
Together
Regarded collectively; in total
She is worth more than all of us together. Considered together, the proposals made little sense.
Gather
Draw and hold together (fabric or a part of a garment) by running thread through it
The front is gathered at the waist
Together
In or into a unified structure or arrangement
Put the food processor together.
Gather
A part of a garment that is gathered.
Together
Simultaneously
The bells rang out together.
Gather
To collect from different places; assemble
Gather the pieces of a puzzle.
Gather information.
Together
In harmony or accord
We stand together on this issue.
Gather
To cause to come together; convene
The teacher gathered the students around the exhibit.
Together
(Informal) Into an effective, coherent condition
Get yourself together.
Gather
To draw (something or someone) closer to oneself
Gathered the shawl about my shoulders.
Gathered the child in her arms.
Together
Emotionally stable and effective in performance
She's really together.
Gather
To draw into small folds or puckers, as by pulling a thread through cloth.
Together
In tune with what is going on; hip.
Gather
To contract and wrinkle (the brow).
Together
At the same time, in the same place; in close association or proximity.
We went to school together.
Gather
To harvest or pick
Gather crops.
Gather mushrooms.
Together
Into one place; into a single thing; combined.
He put all the parts together.
Gather
To conclude or infer, as from evidence
I gather a decision has not been reached.
Together
In a relationship or partnership, for example a business relationship or a romantic partnership.
Bob and Andy went into business together.
Jenny and Mark have been together since they went on holiday to Mexico.
Gather
To summon up; muster
Gathered up his courage.
Together
Without intermission or interruption; continuously; uninterruptedly.
It has been raining four days together
Gather
To accumulate (something) gradually; amass
The top of the bookshelf gathered dust.
Together
(colloquial) Coherent; well organized.
He's really together.
Gather
To attract or be the center of attraction for
The jugglers gathered a large crowd.
Together
In company or association with respect to place or time; as, to live together in one house; to live together in the same age; they walked together to the town.
Soldiers can never stand idle long together.
Gather
To gain by a process of gradual increase
Gather speed.
Together
In or into union; into junction; as, to sew, knit, or fasten two things together; to mix things together.
The king joined humanity and policy together.
Gather
To pick up or collect (molten glass) using a tool in glassblowing.
Together
In concert; with mutual coöperation; as, the allies made war upon France together.
Take the bad together with the good.
Gather
To come together in a group; assemble
A crowd gathered in the lobby.
Together
Mentally and emotionally stable;
She's really together
Gather
To accumulate
Dark clouds are gathering.
Together
In conjunction with; combined;
Our salaries put together couldn't pay for the damage
We couldn`t pay for the damages with all out salaries put together
Gather
To grow or increase by degrees
The truck's speed gathered on the downslope.
Together
In contact with each other;
The leaves stuck together
Gather
To come to a head, as a boil; fester.
Together
Assembled in one place;
We were gathered together
Gather
To forage for wild foodstuffs.
Together
In each other's company;
We went to the movies together
The family that prays together stays together
Gather
The act or an instance of gathering.
Together
At the same time;
We graduated together
Gather
A small fold or pucker made by gathering cloth.
Together
With cooperation and interchange;
We worked together on the project
Gather
A mass of molten glass collected on the end of a blowpipe or other glassblowing tool.
Together
With a common plan;
Act in concert
Gather
To collect; normally separate things.
I've been gathering ideas from the people I work with.
She bent down to gather the reluctant cat from beneath the chair.
Gather
Especially, to harvest food.
We went to gather some blackberries from the nearby lane.
Gather
To accumulate over time, to amass little by little.
Over the years he'd gathered a considerable collection of mugs.
Gather
(intransitive) To congregate, or assemble.
People gathered round as he began to tell his story.
Gather
(intransitive) To grow gradually larger by accretion.
Gather
To bring parts of a whole closer.
She gathered the shawl about her as she stepped into the cold.
Gather
(sewing) To add pleats or folds to a piece of cloth, normally to reduce its width.
A gown should be gathered around the top so that it will remain shaped.
Gather
(knitting) To bring stitches closer together.
Be careful not to stretch or gather your knitting.
If you want to emphasise the shape, it is possible to gather the waistline.
Gather
(architecture) To bring together, or nearer together, in masonry, as for example where the width of a fireplace is rapidly diminished to the width of the flue.
Gather
(nautical) To haul in; to take up.
To gather the slack of a rope
Gather
To infer or conclude; to know from a different source.
From his silence, I gathered that things had not gone well.
I gather from Aunty May that you had a good day at the match.
Gather
To be filled with pus
Salt water can help boils to gather and then burst.
Gather
(glassblowing) To collect molten glass on the end of a tool.
Gather
To gain; to win.
Gather
A plait or fold in cloth, made by drawing a thread through it; a pucker.
Gather
The inclination forward of the axle journals to keep the wheels from working outward.
Gather
The soffit or under surface of the masonry required in gathering. See gather (transitive verb).
Gather
(glassblowing) A blob of molten glass collected on the end of a blowpipe.
Gather
A gathering.
Gather
To bring together; to collect, as a number of separate things, into one place, or into one aggregate body; to assemble; to muster; to congregate.
And Belgium's capital had gathered themHer beauty and her chivalry.
When he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together.
Gather
To pick out and bring together from among what is of less value; to collect, as a harvest; to harvest; to cull; to pick off; to pluck.
A rose just gathered from the stalk.
Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Gather us from among the heathen.
Gather
To accumulate by collecting and saving little by little; to amass; to gain; to heap up.
He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.
To pay the creditor . . . he must gather up money by degrees.
Gather
To bring closely together the parts or particles of; to contract; to compress; to bring together in folds or plaits, as a garment; also, to draw together, as a piece of cloth by a thread; to pucker; to plait; as, to gather a ruffle.
Gathering his flowing robe, he seemed to standIn act to speak, and graceful stretched his hand.
Gather
To derive, or deduce, as an inference; to collect, as a conclusion, from circumstances that suggest, or arguments that prove; to infer; to conclude.
Let me say no more!Gather the sequel by that went before.
Gather
To gain; to win.
He gathers ground upon her in the chase.
Gather
To bring together, or nearer together, in masonry, as where the width of a fireplace is rapidly diminished to the width of the flue, or the like.
Gather
To haul in; to take up; as, to gather the slack of a rope.
Gather
To come together; to collect; to unite; to become assembled; to congregate.
When small humors gather to a gout.
Tears from the depth of some divine despairRise in the heart, and gather to the eyes.
Gather
To grow larger by accretion; to increase.
Their snowball did not gather as it went.
Gather
To concentrate; to come to a head, as a sore, and generate pus; as, a boil has gathered.
Gather
To collect or bring things together.
Thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strewed.
Gather
A plait or fold in cloth, made by drawing a thread through it; a pucker.
Gather
The inclination forward of the axle journals to keep the wheels from working outward.
Gather
Sewing consisting of small folds or puckers made by pulling tight a thread in a line of stitching
Gather
The act of gathering something
Gather
Assemble or get together;
Gather some stones
Pull your thoughts together
Gather
Collect in one place;
We assembled in the church basement
Let's gather in the dining room
Gather
Collect or gather;
Journals are accumulating in my office
The work keeps piling up
Gather
Conclude from evidence;
I gather you have not done your homework
Gather
Draw fabric together and sew it tightly
Gather
Get people together;
Assemble your colleagues
Get together all those who are interested in the project
Gather the close family members
Gather
Look for (food) in nature;
Our ancestors gathered nuts in the Fall
Common Curiosities
What does it mean when someone says, "Let's stick together"?
It means to stay close or united, especially in a situation requiring solidarity.
Is "gather" only used for physical items?
No, it can also refer to collecting non-physical items like information or sentiments.
What does it mean to gather in a social context?
In social contexts, to gather means to bring people together for a meeting or event.
How is "together" used to describe a relationship?
Together often describes a close and harmonious relationship, like a couple living together.
What differentiates "being together" from "being gathered"?
Being together refers to a state of unity, while being gathered emphasizes the action taken to achieve that state.
Can "gather" apply to abstract concepts?
Yes, one can gather thoughts, ideas, or even courage, referring to the act of focusing or marshalling them.
How does "together" enhance teamwork?
Together enhances teamwork by emphasizing collaboration and joint efforts.
What is implied by doing things together?
Doing things together implies cooperation and shared effort.
Can "gather" be used in a scientific context?
Yes, scientists often gather data or samples for analysis.
Is there a cultural significance to gathering?
Yes, many cultures have traditions of gathering for communal activities like festivals or communal meals.
What are the emotional connotations of "together"?
Together often conveys feelings of connection, support, and unity.
How does technology affect how we gather?
Technology enables virtual gatherings, expanding how and where we can collect or meet.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
