collect

collectverb

American /kə.ˈlɛkt/ British /kə.ˈlekt/ The stress is on the second part: kuh-LEKT.
third-person singular collects past tense collected past participle collected present participle collecting

To collect is to bring things or people together in one place, or to come together.

  1. bring togetherbring things together from different places or people

    transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj] verb + object + preposition + object [V + obj + prep + obj]

    Collocations

    verb + noun collect data, collect information, collect evidence, collect the papers
    verb + preposition collect something from someone

    Synonyms gather

  2. as a hobbyget and keep things of one kind because you like them or they may be worth money

    transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj]

    Collocations

    verb + noun collect stamps, collect coins, collect art
  3. go and getgo to a place and take someone or something away from there

    transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj] verb + object + preposition + object [V + obj + prep + obj]

    Collocations

    verb + noun collect your tickets, collect a package, collect your bags

    Synonyms pick up; fetch

  4. moneyask people to give money for something, or get money that is owed

    transitive or intransitive [T/I] verb + object [V + obj] verb + preposition + object [V + prep + obj]

    Collocations

    verb + noun collect money, collect the rent, collect taxes
    verb + preposition collect for something

    Synonyms raise

  5. gather in one placecome together or build up in one place

    intransitive [I] verb + adverb or preposition [V + adv/prep]

    Collocations

    noun + verb dust collects, water collects, a crowd collects

    Synonyms gather

Word family

  • collection
  • collector
  • collective

Usage

In the sense go and get, collect is common everywhere for things (collect your tickets). When the object is a person, American English more often uses pick up: pick up the children from school.

Common mistakes

I want to collect experience abroad. I want to gain experience abroad.
Experience is gained or got, not collected.