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Glite Dictionary
to gather intel

to gather intel

4 5.6
To find information about people and places, often for the military or news reporters
  • phrasal verb
  • Jargon
translation icon : recopilar información
  • Before launching the operation, the team decided to gather intel on enemy movements.

Examples

  • Man, you're supposed to stay out of the danger zone to gather intel only.

    Mercenary for Justice (2006)

  • He was gathering intel on Alexander Petrov, a Russian arms dealer and former KGB.

    Land of Bad (2024)

  • The first step to gathering intel using Little Bird is to create a report; it's a fairly simple process.

    Blog text (24)

  • I will sleep well tonight because SEALs like these guys are out all over the world protecting others, gathering intel, dealing with bad guys, and in general making the world safer for Americans.

    Blog text (17)

  • If the CIA didn't learn of the affair in the first place, especially since it appears that Broadwell is hardly the model of discretion, doesn't that call into question their ability to gather intel even in a fairly target-rich environment?

    Blog text (2)

  • To ensure success, the spy was sent to gather intel on the rival group's plans.

  • During the mission, they will gather intel to assess the situation accurately.

Synonyms

to gather data
vsto gather intel
8 2.9

Collect information to study or make decisions

is used for military or strategic collection rather than scientific study
to glean information
vsto gather intel
2 5.2

To find small pieces of information from different places and put them together

collects information more broadly and directly instead of slowly piecing it together

How Much

to compile
134 4.1
to gather intel
  • Jargon
4 5.6
to scout
77 3.3
to observe
619 2.4
to listen in
  • Informal
57 5.0

Surface Forms

gather intel infinitive
gathered intel past
gathered intel past participle
gathering intel present participle
gathers intel third person singular

Morphology

gather + intel

The meaning 'to collect information' is directly and compositionally derived from 'gather' (to collect or assemble) plus 'intel' (information, especially operational or strategic). This verb + noun combination follows a straightforward compositional pattern (despite 'intel' being an informal/abbreviated form), so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily understand the MWE.

Etymology

The verb gather intel uses gather in its usual sense of collecting and intel, short for 'intelligence', means 'useful information'. Imagine spies or reporters picking up small facts like pieces of a puzzle and bringing them together, and that's why gather intel means 'to collect information', often to help plan or for military use.