WordValecongregate
to gather into a crowd
In more detail
1. (verb) to gather or come together in a group
2. (verb) to assemble or meet in one place
Examples
- Students congregate in the cafeteria during lunch.
- Birds congregate on the telephone wires before migrating.
How to use congregate
Congregate is a somewhat formal verb meaning to come together in a group or assembly, often implying a deliberate gathering or a natural tendency to cluster. It is commonly used in religious contexts (people congregating for worship) but also in broader contexts describing crowds or groups collecting in one place. It is more formal than 'gather' and slightly more neutral than 'assemble,' which can suggest a more organized or official meeting.
Common phrases
- congregate in the square
- congregate around
- congregate together
- tend to congregate
- congregate for worship
Synonyms
gather · assemble · convene · meet · accumulate
Opposites
disperse · scatter · separate
Word family
congregation (noun) · congregational (adjective) · congregating (present participle)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse 'congregate' with 'conglomerate' or use it with an incorrect preposition; the correct prepositions are typically 'in,' 'around,' or 'at,' not 'on' or 'into.'
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