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 of convene

• 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

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

Well, the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) convened recently to share ideas on how to enhance the sport of college football, along with other conversations about the current landscape of a profession that changes on what feels like a weekly basis. —Trey Wallace Outkick, FOXNews.com, 6 May 2026

During the Cannes Film Festival, Goldfinch International and Fablemill will co-host a private gathering at the harbor convening senior figures from film commissions, government advisory bodies, fund managers, studios and technology founders across MENA, Southeast Asia, Africa and South Asia. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 6 May 2026

Danco proposed the justices could convene a special argument session to hear the case and race to write a full-fledged, final opinion on a hot-button issue before their summer recess begins in July. —Ella Lee, The Hill, 6 May 2026

Gennady Zyuganov, the longtime leader of Russia’s Communist Party, told the lower house of ‌parliament that the meeting Putin convened with his ministers was the gloomiest in a long time, according to Reuters. —Jason Ma, Fortune, 3 May 2026

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