1,400 new words in our dictionary! — Parasocial, glow-up, promposal & more
1,400 new words in our dictionary! — More

conference

noun

ˈkän-f(ə-)rən(t)s How to pronounce conference (audio)
Definition of conferencenext
1
as in assembly
a body of people come together in one place the conference voted to conclude that day's meeting and to resume discussions the next morning

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in symposium
a meeting featuring a group discussion a conference on the need for international cooperation in combating emerging viruses

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in discussion
an exchange of views for the purpose of exploring a subject or deciding an issue a parent-teacher conference to discuss a student having trouble in school

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of conference The company revealed its Gamera aircraft on the opening day of the Air, Space and Cyber conference, presenting a full-scale model of a drone built around long endurance, modular payloads, and swarm operations. — Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 15 Sep. 2026 In forums, at conferences and workshops and, of course, on social media, people are speculating about which of these remaining problems AI will tackle next. — Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 15 Sep. 2026 The stock market reaction Wednesday will largely come down to what decision the Fed makes, as well as the messaging Chairman Kevin Warsh issues at the press conference. — Sarah Min, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2026 The conference, which will take place at the Grand Hyatt Washington on Thursday, marks an important full-circle moment for Kennedy, who joined Children’s Health Defense in 2015. — Isabella Cueto, STAT, 14 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for conference
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conference
  1. assembly
  2. symposium
  3. discussion
  4. meeting
  5. seminar
  6. consultation
  7. assemblage
  8. panel
Noun
  • Espino told the assembly’s budget committee that fewer than 10 percent of the canal’s daily transits are auctioned, meaning most ships are not competing in an auction for passage.
    — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 17 Sep. 2026
  • With the advent of AI and amid corporate mergers and production woes, cinema is at a tipping point, but this assembly of panelists is optimistic.
    — Isabelle Farina, Variety, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of assembly
Noun
  • Similar symposiums have been held at the same location in Septembers past, but the tenor of this year’s, hosted by TreePeople, was different.
    — Pedro Moura, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Those reading the tea leaves even focused on how Warsh kicked off his speech at the economic policy symposium sponsored by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
    — Susan Tompor, Freep.com, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of symposium
Noun
  • One thoughtful question could turn a confusing discussion into a conversation people can genuinely learn from.
    — Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 12 Sep. 2026
  • The vigils, which drew tens of thousands of people a year, were the only large-scale public commemoration on Chinese soil of the Tiananmen crackdown, discussion of which is heavily censored in mainland China.
    — Jennifer Jett, NBC news, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of discussion
Noun
  • Those of us among the audience are, by implication, among the meeting’s attendees, and our engagement with Ireland’s play, under Maria Dizzia’s direction, has a certain active power.
    — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Two years ago, quantum technology and AI came up in separate meetings, on separate slides, championed by different people in the room.
    — Dax Grant, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of meeting
Noun
  • This year, the August days were filled with live podcasts and seminars, ranging from football analytics to responsible gaming.
    — Chad Millman, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Apprisen Learn More Highlights Founded in 1955, Apprisen offers budgeting workshops, debt management plans, credit counseling, housing seminars and bankruptcy education in person and online.
    — Dan Avery, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of seminar
Noun
  • Jonathan said the initial consultation for the surgery will cost $1,200 — but beyond that, the exact price for the procedure is still unclear, leaving him uncertain what route to take.
    — Sara Belcher, PEOPLE, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Among them, Amazon Beauty is offering one-on-one makeup artist consultations; Wella Professionals is offering dry hair styling and touch-ups; and Anastasia Soare will give a brow artistry masterclass.
    — Jennet Jusu, Allure, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of consultation
Noun
  • Atlanta architect Keith Summerour and his family are selling the assemblage of land and historic 19th century buildings, such as an old cotton gin.
    — Amy Wenk, AJC.com, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Unlike a polished piece of metal which is reflective and the same material from every direction, a second surface mirror is an assemblage, has a transparent layer, a reflective layer, and an opaque layer.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of assemblage
Noun
  • Yet the region remains less than the sum of its parts, argued Edward Au, southern region managing partner for Deloitte China, who joined Che on the panel.
    — Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 9 Sep. 2026
  • The Athletic is confronted with dozens of multicoloured wires and cables, plugged in to a panel on an outside broadcast truck.
    — Nick Miller, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of panel

Browse Nearby Words

confer
conference
conference call
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Conference.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conference. Accessed 19 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 18
See More

Popular

See More

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
crayons-in-a-circle
Guess the Color Quiz Questions that use the whole box of crayons.
See All