Definition

Verb: 1. To collect and bring together things or people that are scattered: The primary meaning is to collect multiple items or people from different places into one group or location. 2. To lift something up, often by collecting it into one's arms or hands: This meaning emphasizes the physical action of lifting after or while collecting.

Usage and Examples

• Collecting Scattered Items:
  • Please gather up all the toys and put them in the box.
  • She gathered up her papers and left the meeting.
• Collecting and Lifting:
  • He gathered up the child in his arms.
  • I gathered up my groceries and headed to the checkout.

Advanced Usage

• "to gather oneself up": This reflexive phrase means to prepare oneself mentally or physically, often after a shock or before an effort. It implies collecting one's strength, courage, or composure.
  • After falling, she gathered herself up and continued the race.

Variants and Related Words

• Gather (verb): The core verb meaning to come or bring together. "Gather up" often adds a sense of completeness or finality to the action of "gather."
  • Gather the data. (Focus on the collection)
  • Gather up the data. (Focus on collecting it all to finish the task)
• Round up (phrasal verb): A close synonym, especially for collecting people or animals.
  • The cowboy rounded up the cattle.

Synonyms

• Collect: To bring things together from different places.
• Pick up: To collect or lift someone or something.
• Assemble: To bring people or things together into a group.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Gather in: Very similar to "gather up," often used for harvesting crops or bringing people inside.
  • They gathered in the wheat before the storm.
• Gather together: Emphasizes the act of bringing things or people into one group or place.
  • Let's gather together all the volunteers.

Related Idioms

• Gather dust: To remain unused for a long time.
  • The old project files are just gathering dust on the shelf. (Note: This idiom uses the base verb "gather," not the phrasal verb "gather up.")

Verb

1. gather or collect
   • You can get the results on Monday
   • She picked up the children at the day care center
   • They pick up our trash twice a week
2. take and lift upward