Congregate Meaning
/ˈkɒŋɡɹəɡeɪt/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
verbTo collect into an assembly or assemblage; to bring into one place, or into a united body.
verbTo come together; to assemble; to meet.
Sentence Examples
Eagles congregate here in the spring.
In the winter the elk congregate on the golf course.
CEFR Practice Quiz
Students often ____ in the library before class starts.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
During the fire drill, all students are instructed to quietly ____ in the school parking lot.
Word Origin & History
The adjective is first attested in 1400–1450, in Middle English, the verb c. 1513; from Middle English congregat(e) (“(of people) banded together; (of liquids) accumulated; (of muscles) contracted; (of wounds) closed up”), borrowed from Latin congregātus, perfect passive participle of congregō (“to congregate”) (see -ate (etymology 1, 2 and 3), from con- (“with, together”) + gregō (“to collect into a flock”), from grex (“flock, herd”). See gregarious and egregious. Participial usage of the adjective up until Early Modern English.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Any multitude of Christian men congregated may be termed by the name of a church."
— [1594], Richard Hooker, edited by J[ohn] S[penser], Of the Lawes of Ecclesiastical Politie, […], London: […] Iohn Windet, […], →OCLC, (please specify the page):
"The great receptacle Of congregated waters he called Seas."
— 1667, John Milton, “Book VII”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
"Cold congregates all bodies."
— 1825, S[amuel] T[aylor] Coleridge, Aids to Reflection in the Formation of a Manly Character on the Several Grounds of Prudence, Morality, and Religion: […], London: […] Thomas Davison, […] for Taylor and Hessey, […], →OCLC:
"And here I would observe, that love of admiration seems scarcely to be properly appreciated; it is the only bond of society—we could not otherwise endure each other. It is the true source of the sublime, and, my conscience obliges me to add, of the ridiculous. Still, it is the strong necessity of admiring each other, and the being admired in our turn, that has built cities, congregated multitudes, and organised what we call our present state of civilisation."
— 1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter VII, in Francesca Carrara. […], volume II, London: Richard Bentley, […], (successor to Henry Colburn), →OCLC, page 68:
"Even there where merchants most do congregate."
— c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iii]:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
Students often ____ in the library before class starts.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
During the fire drill, all students are instructed to quietly ____ in the school parking lot.