Synonym Chooser

How is the word convene different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of convene are call, cite, convoke, muster, and summon. While all these words mean "to demand the presence of," convene is somewhat less formal than convoke.

convened the students

How are the words call and summon related as synonyms of convene?

Call may be used less formally for summon.

called the legislature into special session

When is it sensible to use cite instead of convene?

The words cite and convene can be used in similar contexts, but cite implies a summoning to court usually to answer a charge.

cited for drunken driving

Where would convoke be a reasonable alternative to convene?

The meanings of convoke and convene largely overlap; however, convoke implies a summons to assemble for deliberative or legislative purposes.

convoked a Vatican council

When would muster be a good substitute for convene?

Although the words muster and convene have much in common, 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

In what contexts can summon take the place of convene?

In some situations, the words summon and convene are roughly equivalent. However, summon implies the exercise of authority.

was summoned to answer charges

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of convene The new House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Committee is scheduled to convene this week. Dana Ferguson, Twin Cities, 10 Feb. 2025 In January, leaders in artificial intelligence, including representatives from OpenAI and DeepMind, gathered in Gloria Steinem’s living room, convened by the media start-up Charter and Bloomberg Beta, to talk about gender equality in their industry. Emma Goldberg, New York Times, 10 Feb. 2025 The two men convene through their translator Toda Mariko (Anna Sawai), a disgraced noblewoman determined to prove her loyalty and strategic prowess. Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 7 Feb. 2025 Some education stakeholders said Lamont also ignored several proposals from the Task Force to Study Special Education Services and Funding, a 14-member group convened by statute in 2021 that delivered its final recommendations last month. Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 6 Feb. 2025 See all Example Sentences for convene 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for convene
Verb
  • Lamar delivered a Super Bowl performance wholly unlike any other before it, in which the aim was not to summon nostalgia or comfort but to demand full attention and active listening from his audience.
    Andrew R. Chow, TIME, 10 Feb. 2025
  • The Bureau of Mediation Services intervened, summoning both parties for mediation on Monday, March 4, with the union’s strike window opening on Tuesday.
    Julia Fomby, Twin Cities, 6 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • The trend has been squarely rising for the past decade, gathering pace in the pandemic, to become a defining way to travel for wealthy privacy-hunters and families looking for a hyper-luxe set-up to fly and flop across the generations.
    Giles Hattersley, Vogue, 15 Feb. 2025
  • Israelis gathered in a Tel Aviv square, watching the hostage release live on a large screen.
    Daniel Estrin, NPR, 15 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Judges are starting to restrain Donald Trump and Elon Musk, doing the work the legislative branch and activists seem unable to muster.
    Philip Elliott, TIME, 10 Feb. 2025
  • The same teenager who only mustered a measly 4 points in the first 33 minutes against Clemson … somehow summoned something from deep within, scoring 14 points in six minutes to will Duke back into the ballgame.
    Brendan Marks, The Athletic, 9 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Drawing on his own life experiences and inspired by friends and acquaintances he’s met along the way, filmmaker Adam Elliot has landed himself an Academy Award nomination for his decidedly not kid-friendly stopmotion film Memoir of a Snail.
    David Morgan, Deadline, 8 Feb. 2025
  • The title race in La Liga is set to remain a tight battle, after the top two met at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu on Saturday night to play out a draw as Real Madrd fought back to cancel out Atlético Madrid’s first-half lead and take away a point each with a 1-1 tie.
    Sam Leveridge, Forbes, 8 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Those in need of shelter from the cold can call 211 to check availability of beds.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2023
  • Their children’s schoolmates call the sisters the Puffling Queens.
    Cheryl Katz, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Feb. 2023
Verb
  • Every July, some of the world's most wealthy and powerful figures from the media, finance, technology and political spheres converge at the Sun Valley Resort for the exclusive weeklong conference.
    Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 11 Feb. 2025
  • His disses and phenomenal momentum certainly helped, but several factors converged.
    Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 10 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • McCarthy’s office had hired two newspapermen from the Washington Times-Herald to assemble the speech text for him.
    Made by History, TIME, 9 Feb. 2025
  • The delivery company assembles the Avengers of mascots — including Mr. Clean, The Energizer Bunny, The Green Giant, The Man Your Man Could Smell Like and the Kool-Aid Man — for their first-ever Game Day ad.
    Ryan Schwartz, TVLine, 9 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • That night, when Noor rendezvoused with Peter, Catherine Rose in their secret meeting place, Sami called with the bad news, before boarding a plane with the mother.
    Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 24 Jan. 2025
  • Rocket Lab's launch must be precisely timed to allow its satellite to rendezvous with True Anomaly's spacecraft in orbit.
    Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, 12 Apr. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near convene

Cite this Entry

“Convene.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/convene. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on convene

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