convene

verb con·vene \ kən-ˈvēn \

Updated on: 13 Apr 2018

Definition of convene

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.

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convener

or convenor play \kən-ˈvē-nər\ noun

See convene defined for English-language learners

See convene defined for kids

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 of convene from the Web

An emergency meeting was convened, during which Kalanick and the most senior women at the company—Hornsey; Rachel Holt, Uber’s head of North America; and Rachel Whetstone, the head of public and government relations—discussed what to do.

— rachel aviv, The New Yorker, "At Uber, a New C.E.O. Shifts Gears," 30 Mar. 2018
The group, convened by outgoing President Drew Faust , came up with eight key points to enact change on campus.

— steve annear, BostonGlobe.com, "Harvard announces change to lyrics of school’s alma mater," 28 Mar. 2018
An unrelenting surge of gun violence is plaguing Kansas City, and Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker is convening a summit to do something about it.

— glenn e. rice, kansascity, "Columbine survivor to speak at gun violence summit in Kansas City | The Kansas City Star," 26 Mar. 2018
Many of the policies announced Sunday stem from a commission Trump convened last year.

— author: katie zezima, Anchorage Daily News, "Trump administration to seek stiffer penalties against drug dealers, reduce opioid prescribing," 19 Mar. 2018
Many of the policies announced Sunday stem from a commission Trump convened last year.

— katie zezima, Washington Post, "Trump administration to seek stiffer penalties against drug dealers, reduce opioid prescribing," 18 Mar. 2018
Cranley suggested the Collaborative refresh during a town hall meeting on police-community relations convened by The Enquirer at a Roselawn church in July 2016.

— mark curnutte, Cincinnati.com, "Embattled city manager Harry Black wins African-American support for police reform views," 18 Mar. 2018
The new policy was recommended by a task force that Ray convened last year to review OSU's admission and attendance policies for prospective students with prior criminal histories.

— danny moran, OregonLive.com, "Oregon State University enacts policy requiring self-reporting of past felony convictions, sex offender registration," 15 Feb. 2018
Statewide, the number of children subjected to involuntary psychiatric exams rose nearly 50 percent between Fiscal Year 2010-11 and Fiscal Year 2015-16, according to a state task force convened last year to study the issue.

— kyra gurney, miamiherald, "After a 7-year-old was taken from school in handcuffs, Miami-Dade reveals new policy," 10 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'convene.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of convene

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

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First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

convene Synonyms

Phrases

get together;

Synonym Discussion of 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

CONVENE Defined for English Language Learners

convene

verb

Definition of convene for English Language Learners

: to come together in a group for a meeting

CONVENE Defined for Kids

convene

verb con·vene \ kən-ˈvēn \

Definition of convene for Students

convened; convening

: to come or bring together as an assembly

The legislature convened on Tuesday.

The teacher convened the class.

Word Root of convene

The Latin word venīre, meaning “to come,” and its form ventus give us the roots ven and vent. Words from the Latin venīre have something to do with coming. To invent is to come up with a new idea or device that no one has thought of before. To convene is to come together for a purpose. An event is an occasion when many people come together.