convene

play

verb con·vene \kən-ˈvēn\

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.

convener

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

Economic adviser Gary Cohn and other officials on the National Economic Council have convened several meetings with him to explain differences between the House and Senate bills.

— julie pace, The Seattle Times, "GOP ponders whether Trump helps sell health care", 29 June 2017
This week, CAA convened a diverse group of 150 or so actors, directors, executives, athletes, scholars, and activists in Laguna Beach for the first CAA Amplify conference, a three-day summit on inclusion.

— rebecca keegan, HWD, "One Agency’s Awakening", 22 June 2017
In January 2016, Murray convened a task force on the issue, including members from advocacy organizations and representatives from landlord and tenant groups.

— daniel beekman, The Seattle Times, "Seattle mayor proposes help for renters with criminal records", 21 June 2017
OG Anunoby, Thomas Bryant and James Blackmon Jr. are all hoping to hear their names called Thursday, when the draft convenes in Brooklyn.

— zach osterman, The Courier-Journal, "NBA draft primer: Former IU players set for busy night", 21 June 2017
Based in Chicago, The Breakfast Club bears the same name as a popular 1985 youth movie about five seemingly disparate high school students who convene for a Saturday morning detention.

— bob kostanczuk, Post-Tribune, "Whiting flashes back to '80s with downtown music night", 16 June 2017
On Monday, Trump convened his first full Cabinet meeting since taking office, gathering the heads of every major government agency for a press gaggle around the elliptical mahogany table that occupies a prominent place in the West Wing.

— tina nguyen, The Hive, "Trump Appointees Take Turns Praising Him in Bizarre Cabinet Meeting", 12 June 2017
Also on the agenda when the seven-person board convenes is a vote on a series of recommendations from a report prepared by former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder regarding its workplace.

— greg bensinger, WSJ, "Uber Board to Discuss CEO Travis Kalanick’s Possible Leave of Absence", 11 June 2017
Cheers filled the McCormick Place meeting room, where the People’s Summit had convened, as Sanders was shown on the screen talking to BLM organizers.

— the washington post, The Mercury News, "Inspired by Sanders, activists push Democrats to left — or out of the way", 10 June 2017

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

NEW!

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

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

play

verb

Definition of convene for English Language Learners

: to come together in a group for a meeting

CONVENE Defined for Kids

convene

play

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.