to gather in
1
4.3
- phrasal verb
- The seamstress decided to gather in the excess fabric to create a more fitted dress.
- family gathered in
- people gathered in
- gather in groups
Examples
-
In preparation for the quilt, she had to gather in all the loose threads and pieces of fabric.
-
As she gathered in the last few strands of wool, the blanket began to take shape.
-
Within a short while, a crowd of people has gathered in front of the main doors.
Academic text (2008) -
All right, runners, gather in here for your instructions.
-
That suggests the harvest had only recently been gathered in.
-
The entire group is gathered in a sort of pit on a hard concrete floor.
Fiction book (1991) -
A small crowd stood gathered in the back of the room, curious to watch the proceedings.
Academic text (2009) -
Factions, please gather in your assigned areas.
-
After dinner, the family gathered in the drawing room for an hour of needlework, reading, and study.
Fiction book (2000) -
One night, the duty guards gathered in a large tent to avoid a blizzard.
Fiction book (1990)
Synonyms
117
2.3
To press things together so they take less space
62
2.9
To tie things together
61
2.1
Bring things together by picking them up with your hands
33
3.0
Bend something, like a map or blanket, so it becomes small for storage
13
3.3
To gather closely into a tight group
7
3.0
Tie or wrap things together to make one package
6
3.5
To fold something so it takes less space
4
3.0
To press things so they fit more tightly together
4
3.1
To move or bring close together to form a small group
3
4.9
Make a piece of clothing smaller by sewing it
1
7.2
To press and tie plant material like straw or hay into large tight bundles for storage
1
6.1
Pull fabric together to make small folds
Antonyms
How Compact
43
3.7
13
5.5
- Informal
44
3.0
1
4.3
6
3.9
33
3.0
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'to fold up or bring together so it occupies less space' is directly and predictably composed from 'gather' (to draw together) + 'in' (toward the inside), so a learner who knows both words can infer the phrasal meaning. This verb+particle pattern is a common, transparent composition in English (and has parallels in other languages), making it accessible to a B1 learner without prior exposure.
Etymology
Gather in comes from the simple image of pulling cloth or sails toward the centre. By using gather and in you bring the material together so it takes up less space, like when you gather in a picnic blanket or the sails before a storm. So, it means 'to fold up or bring together'.