Gathered up is a common phrase that is often used to describe the action of bringing things together. It can be used in a variety of contexts, from cleaning up a mess to collecting scattered items. While it is a useful phrase, sometimes it's more interesting to use synonyms to add variety to your writing. Some alternatives to "gathered up" include assembled, collected, compiled, amassed, accumulated, pulled together, rounded up, and harvested. Each of these words can help to add a different tone or nuance to your writing, whether you're describing the gathering of physical objects or the bringing together of ideas.