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

Jordan is expected to convene a hearing next Tuesday. —Deirdre Walsh, NPR, 25 Mar. 2025

Building on the foundation set at its inaugural meeting last month, the La Jolla Cove Access Working Group convened again this week to discuss ways to maintain public access to The Cove amid conflicts between people and sea lions there. —Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Mar. 2025

Matsui convened a group of people who use Medi-Cal and CalFresh at the Yolo County Children’s Alliance Family Resource Center in West Sacramento Thursday to share their experiences. —Kate Wolffe, Sacramento Bee, 21 Mar. 2025

On Thursday night as the cabinet convened, thousands of protesters demonstrated in the rain for hours outside the prime minister's office. —Barak Ravid, Axios, 21 Mar. 2025

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

Rhymes for convene

• agin
• alkene
• allene
• ameen
• amin
• amine
• arene
• athene
• baleen
• beeline
• benzene
• between

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