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to collect

to collect

499 1.1
To bring things or people together in one place
  • verb
  • /kəˈlɛkt/
translation icon : recoger
  • And so they went out and they collected samples.
  • collect data
  • collect information
  • collect samples

And then I just collect these to put into my bag.

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Examples

  • During the event, volunteers collect donations from attendees to support local charities.

  • You are more able to collect data on how foods make you feel.

  • So basically what we have is we collect the garden waste.

  • Listen to it, display it, collect it, trade it.

  • And so we can just collect up the evidence for it.

  • And then I just collect these to put into my bag.

  • Students must be able to identify the most important information and collect evidence to support their learning needs.

    Academic text (2011)
  • So space and the opportunity to collect is crucial for my practice.

  • Florida has 229 curbside programs that collect over 20 different types of materials.

    Academic text (1999)
  • The Recycling Team has been collecting yard trimmings and wood residuals for three years.

    Academic text (1999)

Synonyms

to pick up
vsto collect
2.5

To get something from a store or give someone a ride

is broader, not limited to casual acquisition or offering transport
to gather
vsto collect
1.0

Bring people, things, or information together in one place

is identical in basic meaning with no major use difference
to meet
vsto collect
229 1.0

To come together at one point, like two rivers or walls

bringing many items or people together, not only joining at a point
to accumulate
vsto collect
174 3.4

To gather more and more of something over time

is the general action and does not imply slow, gradual increase
to round up
vsto collect
169 3.2

To bring people, animals, or things together in one place

is broader, not implying this active rounding or herding method
to assemble
vsto collect
152 3.3

To gather people in one place for a purpose

is more general and not always focused on a specific purpose
to compile
vsto collect
134 4.1

To collect and arrange information and materials into a list or book

focuses on organizing information into a structured form rather than physical bringing
to concentrate
vsto collect
130 3.6

To bring people or things together in one place

is not necessarily about central control or placing under a single authority
to get together
vsto collect
  • Informal
118 2.8

To bring people together for a meeting or activity

is more general, applying to people and things, not only social meetings
to garner
vsto collect
  • Formal
88 6.0

To collect or get something after effort

is more general and does not necessarily stress effort to obtain things
to gather around
vsto collect
70 1.9

Come together in a group near someone or something

is about bringing things or people together, not only forming a close surrounding group
to amass
vsto collect
66 4.8

To collect a lot of something over time

is not focused on large scale or long time building up
to pull together
vsto collect
50 3.4

Gather people or things and organize them to reach a goal

is more general and need not include organizing for a goal
to convene
vsto collect
  • Formal
45 5.7

To bring people together for a formal meeting

is less formal and used for many everyday or nonofficial gatherings
to gather up
vsto collect
43 2.1

Bring things together by picking them up with your hands

does the same action but without implying hand lifting or carrying
to group
vsto collect
38 1.2

To put people and things together by type or purpose

is about bringing together without necessarily sorting into separate sections
to congregate
vsto collect
30 4.1

To come together in a group for a reason

involves actively bringing people or things together rather than only arriving
to aggregate
vsto collect
23 5.1

To collect things together to make one total

is the simple act of bringing items together rather than forming a summed total
to roll up
vsto collect
22 3.7

Collect small amounts until they become a larger total

is merely bringing things together without implying combination into a larger total
to pull in
vsto collect
12 3.6

To gather information or things from different places

is more general and does not stress bringing from multiple sources
to bunch together
vsto collect
5 3.1

To move or bring close together to form a small group

is broader and does not require items to be packed closely or tightly
5 3.6

Gather money from a group to give to a person in need or a charity

is the general action and does not focus on taking money from people
to agglomerate
vsto collect
1 8.4

To join together to form a mass or cluster

is broader and does not always imply clustering into a single dense mass
to aggroup
vsto collect
9.9

To bring people or things together into a group

is the general act of bringing things or people together, not stressing cluster formation
to rake together
vsto collect
  • Informal
6.7

Gather money, papers, or people quickly, often with effort

is more general and does not imply haste, difficulty, or mixed sourcing

Antonyms

297 1.9

To break into parts or pieces

104 4.4

To cause people and things, like a crowd or fog, to spread over a wide area

Idioms

To take time to put your ideas in order and calm down before you speak

not collect $200
  • Informal
9.8

You cannot get money or a reward you expected

Phrasal Verbs

to collect dust
  • Informal
8 3.7

To stay unused or forgotten and become covered in dust

Compounds

20 3.6

A phone call where the person who answers pays the cost

How Much

to amass
66 4.8
to collect
499 1.1
to gather
1.0
to pick up
2.5

Surface Forms

collect infinitive
collected past
collected past participle
collecting present participle
collects third person singular

Etymology

Collect comes from the Latin parts com- 'together' and legere 'to gather'. So to collect is to bring things or people 'together', which is why it means 'to gather' or pick up.