convene

verb

con·​vene kən-ˈvēn 

convened; convening

intransitive verb

: to come together in a body

We convened at the hotel for a seminar.

transitive verb

1

: to summon before a tribunal

2

: to cause to assemble

A world council was convened in Paris.

convener noun

or convenor

kən-ˈvē-nər 

Synonyms

• assemble
• call
• convoke
• muster
• summon

Choose the Right Synonym for convene

summon, call, cite, convoke, convene, muster mean to demand the presence of.

summon implies the exercise of authority.

was summoned to answer charges

call may be used less formally for summon.

called the legislature into special session

cite implies a summoning to court usually to answer a charge.

cited for drunken driving

convoke implies a summons to assemble for deliberative or legislative purposes.

convoked a Vatican council

convene is somewhat less formal than convoke.

convened the students

muster suggests a calling up of a number of things that form a group in order that they may be exhibited, displayed, or utilized as a whole.

mustered the troops

Examples of convene in a Sentence

We convened at the hotel for a seminar.

This class convenes twice a week.

A panel of investigators was convened by the president to review the case.

Recent Examples on the Web

Vegas Summer League — the offseason event that convenes league powerbrokers together — tips off two days later. —Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 17 June 2024

Many of the world’s best golfers will convene at North Carolina’s Pinehurst Resort on Thursday morning, kicking off the 124th U.S. Open and the third major championship of the year. —Anna Tingley, Variety, 13 June 2024

Partnering with local experts To help implement the tool on the ground in Indy, American Forests reached out to Keep Indianapolis Beautiful to help convene community input and engagement. —Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 12 June 2024

Today in history On this day in 1790, the U.S. Supreme Court convened for the first time in New York, but because only three of its six justices were present recessed until the next day. —Lorenzino Estrada, The Arizona Republic, 12 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Medieval Latin convenire, from Latin, to assemble — more at convenient

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Kids Definition

convene

verb

con·​vene kən-ˈvēn 

convened; convening

1

: to come together in a group : assemble

2

: to cause to convene : call together

convened a meeting