Ask Difference

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.
Gather vs. Together — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Gather and Together

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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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Author Spotlight

Written by
Tayyaba Rehman
Tayyaba 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

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