congregationcon‧gre‧ga‧tion /ˌkɒŋɡrəˈɡeɪʃən $ ˌkɑːŋ-/ ●○○ noun [countable] 
Examples
The congregation knelt to pray.2the people who usually go to a particular church: Several members of the congregation are away.GRAMMAR: Singular or plural verb?Congregation is usually followed by a singular verb: · At this point in the service the congregation stands.In British English, you can also use a plural verb: · At this point in the service the congregation stand.Grammar guide ‒ NOUNS
ExamplesEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
word sets- Several members of the congregation organized a bake sale to raise money for a new piano.
- When the prayer ended, the entire congregation sat down.
- A modest congregation sat underneath on benches.
- But not all social responses result in sociable congregation.
- Ike, former radio disc jockey, actually kept his congregation awake on Sunday mornings.
- In the early 1930s the average morning congregation ranged from 72 to 113 and the evening congregations were between 120 and 140.
- No wonder our clergymen look anxious, and their congregations confused!
- Pope John was present at the general congregation on 7 December.
- The congregation shifted on their benches, moved their feet.
- This will depend on where a congregation is.
WORD SETS► Christianity
Collocationsabbess, nounabbey, nounabbot, nounabsolution, nounAdvent, nounalleluia, interjectionaltar boy, nounAnglican, nounAnglo-Catholic, nounapocalyptic, adjectiveapostle, nounapostolic, adjectivearchbishop, nounarchbishopric, nounarchdeacon, nounarchdiocese, nounArk of the Covenant, nounAsh Wednesday, nounAuthorized Version, banns, nounbaptism, nounBaptist, nounbaptize, verbbasilica, nounbeadle, nounbeatify, verbBenedictine, nounbenediction, nounbenefice, nounbiblical, adjectivebiretta, nounbishop, nounbishopric, nounblaspheme, verbblasphemy, nounbrother, nounbull, nounCalvinism, nounCalvinist, adjectivecanon, nouncanonical, adjectivecanonize, verbcanon law, nouncantor, nouncardinal, nouncardinal sin, nouncarol, nouncatechism, nouncathedral, nounCatholic, adjectivechantry, nounchapel, nounchaplain, nounchaplaincy, nounchapter, nounchapterhouse, nouncherub, nounChrist, nounchristen, verbChristendom, nounchristening, nounChristian, nounChristian, adjectivechurch, nounchurchgoer, nounchurchman, nounChurch of England, nounchurchwarden, nounchurchwoman, nounchurchyard, nounclergyman, nounclergywoman, nouncleric, nounclerical, adjectiveclerk, nouncloister, nouncollect, nouncommandment, nouncommunicant, nouncompline, nounconfess, verbconfession, nounconfessional, nounconfessor, nounconfirmation, nouncongregation, nounCongregationalism, nounconsecrate, verbcope, nouncreationist, nouncreche, nouncrib, nouncrosier, nouncrozier, nouncrucifix, nouncrucifixion, nouncrusade, nouncrusade, verbcrypt, nouncuracy, nouncurate, noundeacon, noundeaconess, noundean, noundeanery, noundiocese, noundisciple, noundisestablish, verbdispensation, noundog collar, nounDominican, nounEaster, nounecclesiastic, nounecclesiastical, adjectiveecumenical, adjectiveEden, nounelder, nounencyclical, nounEpiphany, nounepiscopal, adjectiveEpistle, nounevangelical, adjectiveevangelist, nounevangelize, verbevensong, nounexcommunicate, verbexegesis, nounfellowship, nounflagellant, nounflagellate, verbflock, nounfont, nounFr, friar, nounfrock, nounfundamentalist, noungargoyle, noungenuflect, verbgodfather, nounGod-fearing, adjectivegodless, adjectivegodly, adjectivegodmother, noungodparent, noungodson, nounGood Friday, noungrace, noungracious, adjectiveHail Mary, nounharvest festival, nounHigh Church, nounHigh Mass, nounHoly Communion, nounHoly Father, nounHoly Spirit, nounHoly Week, nounHoly Writ, nounhomily, nounhymn book, nounimprimatur, nounincarnation, nouninduct, verbindulgence, nouninquisitor, nouninterdenominational, adjectiveinterdict, nounJehovah, Jesuit, nounJesus, judgment day, nounlay, adjectivelay reader, nounlectern, nounlesson, nounlitany, nounLow Church, nounlychgate, nounMadonna, nounmanna, nounmanse, nounmatins, nounmeeting-house, nounmessianic, adjectiveMethodist, nounminister, nounministerial, adjectiveministry, nounminster, nounmiracle, nounmissal, nounmissionary, nounmitre, nounmoderator, nounMonsignor, nounMorning Prayer, nounmortal sin, nounMother of God, nounMother Superior, nounname day, nounNativity, nounNativity play, nounnave, nounNegro spiritual, nounNoah's ark, nounNonconformist, adjectivenuncio, nounoffertory, nounoratory, nounordination, nounoriginal sin, nounOur Father, nounOur Lady, Our Lord, padre, nounPalm Sunday, nounpapacy, nounpapal, adjectivepapist, nounparable, nounparish, nounparish church, nounparish clerk, nounparishioner, nounparochial, adjectiveparochial school, nounparson, nounparsonage, nounpassion play, nounpastor, nounpatriarch, nounpatron saint, nounpenance, nounpenitent, nounPentecost, nounPentecostal, adjectiveperdition, nounPlymouth Brethren, nounpontiff, nounpontifical, adjectivepontificate, nounPope, nounprayer book, nounpredestination, nounprelate, nounPresbyterian, nounpresbytery, nounpriest, nounPrimate, nounprior, nounprioress, nounpriory, nounPromised Land, the, Protestant, nounpsalm, nounpsalmist, nounpsalter, nounpulpit, nounQuaker, nounRC, rector, nounrectory, nounredeem, verbredemption, nounrequiem, nounRev, Revd, Reverend, nounReverend Mother, nounrevival, nounrevival meeting, nounRoman Catholic, adjectiverood screen, nounrosary, nounsacrament, nounsacristan, nounsacristy, nounsaint, nounsainted, adjectivesainthood, nounsaint's day, nounsalvation, nounsanctuary, nounSatan, nounsave, verbschism, nounscriptural, adjectivesecular, adjectivesee, nounseminary, nounseraph, nounsermon, nounsexton, nounShrove Tuesday, nounsister, nounsisterhood, nounSJ, special licence, nounsteeple, nounstigmata, nounstoup, nounSunday school, nounsurplice, nounsynod, nountabernacle, nountestify, verbtransubstantiation, nounTrappist, noununfrock, verbUnitarian, nounvenial, adjectivevespers, nounvestment, nounvestry, nounvicar, nounvicarage, nounvotive, adjectivevow, nounVulgate, the, nounWhitsun, nounwimple, nounXmas, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY► stands
1a group of people gathered together in a church: · At this point in the service the congregation stands.
► stand· At this point in the service the congregation stand.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE► large· Congregations on Sunday were good, the larger congregation being at the evening service.· Its 800, 000 membership makes it the largest congregation in the world.· Each winter flocks return to Slim bridge, the largest congregation of the species in Britain.· Many of these are major landmarks rising high above surrounding houses, but often they are far too large for present congregations.· As Farnham's second Anglican church, it was never very successful in attracting large congregations and was declared redundant in 1974.· Some churches with large congregations find that they have to make additional arrangements.· What is possible for a large suburban congregation is out of the question for a tiny congregation in a rural situation.· Richard Baxter had preached to large congregations who listened to him very attentively.
► local· Mr Schuller's local congregation is not altogether happy with his imperial style and church finances are suffering.· Corporate union becomes a priority only when translated into the life and goals of local congregations.· And Christians can be involved in the local congregation for mutual ministry and encouragement and evangelism on a slightly larger scale.
► new· They have realised that the key to unlimited growth was the planting of new congregations.· By far the greatest proportion of those joining the new congregations were Presbyterians and they were mostly from rural areas.
► small· It was the post-conciliar Church that came increasingly to recognize this as the norm, at least for smaller congregations.· Two years later, he was listed as heading a small Puritan congregation on the outskirts of the city.· Finance Small congregation How do we grow?· In 1820 she took her children into a small Presbyterian congregation.
► whole· At one stage the whole congregation went outside to see where the drainage ditch would be sited.· Ideally the whole congregation is the choir.· A firm belief in the priesthood of all believers means that singing belongs to the whole congregation as well as to the choir.
VERB► join· By far the greatest proportion of those joining the new congregations were Presbyterians and they were mostly from rural areas.· She joined this congregation in 1650 and became a Fifth Monarchist in 1652.
► lead· He once led half the congregation through the streets of Georgetown to bring the Eucharist to a bedridden parishioner.
The congregation knelt to pray.2the people who usually go to a particular church: Several members of the congregation are away.GRAMMAR: Singular or plural verb?Congregation is usually followed by a singular verb: · At this point in the service the congregation stands.In British English, you can also use a plural verb: · At this point in the service the congregation stand.Grammar guide ‒ NOUNS