verb
Uncommon
garner
GAH-nuh
Garner (verb) means to gather or collect something, especially over time and through effort, such as support, praise, or information. Example: “The film garnered rave reviews from critics.”
verb
1
To gather or collect something, especially over time and through effort, such as support, praise, or information.
"The film garnered rave reviews from critics."
"She garnered enough signatures to get the petition noticed."
noun
1
A storehouse for grain, or a store of something.
"The farm's garner was full after a good harvest."
How to use garner
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo earn or build up something, usually praise, attention, or support, gradually.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
garner support
garner attention
garner praise
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Word forms
- Plural
- garners
- Third person singular
- garners
- Past tense
- garnered
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The film _____ rave reviews from critics.
Etymology
From Old French gernier, ultimately from Latin grānārium, "granary" — garner and granary are doublets sharing the same Latin ancestor.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for garner
See all rhymes for garner →Frequently asked questions
What does “garner” mean?
The word “garner” means to gather or collect something, especially over time and through effort, such as support, praise, or information. In plain terms, to earn or build up something, usually praise, attention, or support, gradually.
How do you pronounce “garner”?
“Garner” is pronounced GAH-nuh (/ˈɡɑːɹ.nɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “garner” in a sentence?
Here is “garner” used in a sentence: “The film garnered rave reviews from critics.”
What part of speech is “garner”?
Depending on how it is used, “garner” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “garner” come from?
The word “garner” comes from Latin. From Old French gernier, ultimately from Latin grānārium, "granary" — garner and granary are doublets sharing the same Latin ancestor.
Is “garner” a common word?
“Garner” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “garner” have?
“Garner” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to gather or collect something, especially over time and through effort, such as support, praise, or information.
What is the difference between garner and gather?
Garner and gather both mean to collect something, but garner often implies effort or accumulation over time, especially for abstract things like support, praise, or attention, while gather is more general and can apply to physical objects as well. "Garner support" is a common collocation, whereas "gather apples" sounds more natural than "garner apples."
What kinds of things can you garner according to its definition?
According to its core meaning, you typically garner things such as support, praise, attention, or information, especially through sustained effort rather than a single quick action.
Is garner used mostly in formal writing?
Yes, garner tends to appear more often in formal or journalistic writing, such as news articles describing a politician who "garnered support," rather than in casual everyday speech.
