assembling

Meanings

1. 1verbtransitive

   Putting separate parts together to make something whole, such as furniture or a machine.

   Grammar: Takes an object: assembling the bookcase.

   Patterns

   • assembling something from something

   He spent the afternoon assembling a bookcase.

   Workers are assembling cars on the line.

   She is assembling a model plane from a kit.

2. 2verbtransitive or intransitive

   Gathering people or things together in one place or group.

   Grammar: With an object: assembling a team; without: crowds are assembling.

   Patterns

   • assembling a team
   • assembling at somewhere

   The manager is assembling a team for the project.

   Crowds were assembling in the square.

   Students are assembling outside the hall.

Common combinations

assembling furniture

Assembling furniture takes patience.

assembling a team

She is assembling a team of experts.

assembling evidence

Police are assembling evidence.

assembling parts

Assembling parts by hand is slow.

Synonyms and how they differ

building

Building is broader and includes making from raw materials, not only joining finished pieces.

constructing

Constructing is more formal and suits larger structures.

gathering

Gathering suits people or things brought together, not parts joined into one object.

putting together

Putting together is a plain everyday phrase for the same idea.

Opposites

Word family

assemble verb

to put together or gather

assembly noun

a group, or the act of putting together

assembler noun

a person or program that assembles

reassemble verb

to put together again

Commonly confused: assembling or resembling?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “assembling”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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