group
group
Pronunciation
group: /ɡruːp/
/ɡ/ - voiced velar stop
/r/ - voiced alveolar approximant
/uː/ - close back rounded vowel (long)
/p/ - voiceless bilabial stop
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: group
Plural Noun: groups
Present Tense Verb (third person singular): groups
Present Participle/Gerund: grouping
Past Tense Verb: grouped
Past Participle: grouped
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
A number of people or things that are located or gathered together, forming a discernible collection or unit.
Synonyms: collection, cluster, set, assembly, contingent, gathering, aggregation
Antonyms: individual, isolation, singularity, dispersion
An organized body of people working or acting together, often with a shared purpose, interest, or characteristic.
Synonyms: team, committee, squad, band, organization, association, faction
Antonyms: loner, independent, outsider
Verb
To arrange or categorize items or individuals into a particular collection or formation based on shared attributes, proximity, or a specific criterion.
Synonyms: categorize, classify, sort, arrange, organize, cluster, assemble
Antonyms: separate, scatter, disorganize, individualize, disperse
To come together or cause to come together to form a collection or unit.
Synonyms: gather, convene, unite, join, flock, converge
Antonyms: disband, disperse, separate, diverge, leave
Examples of Use
Books:
"They found a small group of survivors huddled together in the abandoned building, their faces gaunt with hunger and fear." (From a fictional post-apocalyptic novel, e.g., The Road by Cormac McCarthy, though this specific sentence is illustrative)
"The research team observed the feeding habits of a particular group of chimpanzees, noting their use of tools to extract termites." (From a non-fiction scientific text, e.g., The Chimpanzees of Gombe by Jane Goodall, though this specific sentence is illustrative)
Newspapers:
"A bipartisan group of senators is pushing for new legislation aimed at addressing climate change." (From The New York Times)
"Police are investigating a group of individuals suspected of vandalizing public property during the recent protests." (From The Guardian)
Online Publications:
"Join our online group for discussions on sustainable living and eco-friendly practices." (From an article on an environmental blog, e.g., TreeHugger)
"The tech giant announced it is acquiring a smaller startup, effectively adding their entire engineering group to its ranks." (From an article on TechCrunch)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Music: "The rock group 'The Rolling Stones' announced their new world tour dates yesterday." (From a music news website, e.g., Rolling Stone Magazine online)
Film/Television: "The main characters form an unlikely group as they embark on a dangerous quest to save their kingdom." (Description from a movie review or streaming platform synopsis, e.g., Netflix summary for a fantasy film)
Video Games: "Players can form a group with friends to tackle challenging raids and boss battles in this massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG)." (From a video game forum or game guide, e.g., World of Warcraft community page)
Social Media: "Check out this amazing dance group performance that went viral on TikTok!" (Caption on a social media post, e.g., Instagram)
General Public Discourse:
"Let's split into two groups for the scavenger hunt – boys versus girls." (Heard in everyday conversation among friends)
"I need to group these documents by date before the meeting." (Heard in an office setting)
"There's a group of us going to the concert tonight, do you want to join?" (Heard in a casual invitation)
"The support group for new parents meets every Tuesday evening." (Heard in community announcements)
10 Famous Quotes Using Group
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." (Margaret Mead)
"A human being is part of a whole, called by us the Universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings, as something separated from the rest - a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty." (Albert Einstein – While not using "group" directly, it speaks to breaking free from the self and joining a larger whole, a metaphorical "grouping" of humanity.)
"I not only use all the brains that I have, but all that I can borrow." (Woodrow Wilson – This quote highlights the collaborative nature of thought, implying the benefit of "group" intelligence.)
"Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success." (Henry Ford – This quote emphasizes the stages of a "group's" development and purpose.)
"No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main." (John Donne – Another example of the interconnectedness of individuals, implying their belonging to a larger "group" or humanity.)
"The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team." (Phil Jackson – This quote directly addresses the power and interdependence within a "group" or team.)
"We are a group of people who are trying to live our lives, and we want to do it in a way that respects other people." (Dalai Lama XIV)
"You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with." (Jim Rohn – This quote suggests the significant influence of one's immediate "group" on personal development.)
"Democracy is a charming form of government, full of variety and disorder, and dispensing a sort of equality to equals and unequals alike." (Plato – While not explicitly using "group," democracy is inherently about the governance of a "group" of people.)
"A group of nations, no matter how small or how great, must recognize that its ultimate security rests in the security of all." (Dwight D. Eisenhower)
Etymology
The word "group" in English has an interesting journey through different languages before it settled into its modern meaning.
It primarily came into English from the French word "groupe" in the 17th century. This French word, in turn, borrowed from the Italian word "gruppo" (or "groppo").
The Italian "gruppo" originally referred to a "knot" or a "heap" of things. It's thought to have come from a Germanic root word, possibly something like "kruppaz," which also meant a "round mass" or "lump." You can see a connection here to words like "crop" in English, which in older uses could mean a cluster or bunch of things.
So, when "group" first appeared in English around the mid-1600s (around 1668, according to the Oxford English Dictionary), its initial meaning was closely tied to its artistic origins. It was used in art criticism to describe an "assemblage of figures or objects forming a harmonious whole in a painting or design." Imagine a painting where several people are positioned together to create a balanced scene – that would have been referred to as a "group."
Over time, the meaning broadened from this specific artistic sense to the more general understanding we have today: a collection of people or things gathered together for any reason. The verb form ("to group") followed a bit later, appearing in the early 1700s.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Group
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "group":
Group effort: A task or project completed through the combined work of several people.
In a group: Referring to people or things gathered together.
Group dynamics: The interactive forces within a group that influence its behavior and performance.
Target group: A specific set of people that something (like a product, message, or service) is aimed at.
Peer group: A social group whose members have similar interests, age, background, or social status.
Focus group: A diverse group of people assembled to participate in a guided discussion about a particular product, service, or concept.
Control group: In an experiment, the group that does not receive the treatment or intervention being tested, used as a baseline for comparison.
To group together: To gather or collect into a group.
Group hug: A physical embrace involving several people at once.
Pressure group: An organized group that tries to influence government or corporate policy.
Breakaway group: A faction or subgroup that separates from a larger organization.
Age group: A category of people defined by their age.
Support group: A group of people with common experiences or concerns who provide emotional and practical support to each other.
Special interest group: A group of people or an organization seeking to advance a specific cause or interest.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of group from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
