convene

1 of 2

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 

convener

2 of 2

noun

con·​ven·​er kən-ˈvē-nər 

variants or convenor

kən-ˈvē-nər, 

-ˌnȯr

plural -s

chiefly British

: one that convenes

especially : the presiding officer of a committee or other organized body of persons

Synonyms of convene

Verb

• summon
• muster
• call

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

Verb

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

Verb

Meteorologists with the National Weather Service and match organizers convene ahead of the eight-mile rule. —Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 10 June 2026

Policymakers are set to convene June 16-17. —Sarah Min,sean Conlon,hugh Leask, CNBC, 10 June 2026

Last week, a committee of scholars convened by Vanderbilt University released a report on the state of humanities and social sciences scholarship across the United States. —Gary Saul Morson, Washington Post, 10 June 2026

No date was immediately set for the session, but the assembly said it would be convened as soon as possible. —CBS News, 9 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

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

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Rhymes for convene

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

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