“Collect” vs. “Gather”: What’s the Difference?

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The difference between “collect” and “gather”

  • "Collect" has the connotation of deliberately putting in effort to amass something, while "gather" can be used for the coming together of things or people without much organization.
  • "Collect" usually involves purposeful intent, while a gathering can either be purposeful or happen more spontaneously.
  • Another difference is that "collect" can imply a personal connection to the items being accumulated, while "gather" can refer to any group of objects or individuals being brought together.
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What is the definition of “collect” and “gather”?

Collect
  • "Collect" means to bring together or accumulate a group of objects or information.
  • It can also refer to the act of receiving payment or taking in something for safekeeping.
  • "Collect" can imply a deliberate effort or intention to acquire or amass something.
Gather
  • "Gather" means to come together or assemble in one place.
  • It can also refer to the act of collecting or retrieving something that was scattered or dispersed.
  • "Gather" can imply a more casual or spontaneous action, where individuals or groups naturally converge.

Which is the more popular variant on the Internet?

“Collect” is the more popular variant on the web.
More popular
Collect
2,560,000,000 results on the web
Examples
  1. I collect seashells every time I visit the beach.
  2. My brother likes to collect stamps from different countries.
  3. The museum is currently collecting donations to fund its upcoming exhibit.
Gather
557,000,000 results on the web
Examples
  1. The family will gather at the park for a picnic this weekend.
  2. The students were asked to gather information about their community for their research project.
  3. We need to gather all the necessary materials before we start building the treehouse.
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