Synonyms of convene

convene

verb

kən-ˈvēn 

1

as in to summon

to bring together in assembly by or as if by command

convened the members of the council for an emergency session

Synonyms & Similar Words

• summon
• muster
• call
• assemble
• convoke
• gather
• reconvene
• rally
• call up
• call out
• call in
• collect
• group
• amass
• round up
• reassemble
• knell

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dissolve
• break up

2

as in to gather

to come together into one body or place

the conventioneers convened in the auditorium to hear the guest speaker

Synonyms & Similar Words

• gather
• meet
• converge
• assemble
• rendezvous
• congregate
• join
• get together
• collect
• merge
• cluster
• concentrate
• conglomerate
• cooperate
• collaborate
• reconvene
• forgather
• unite
• concenter
• consolidate
• couple
• club
• ally
• affiliate
• federate
• confederate
• reassemble
• consort
• band (together)
• conjoin
• caucus
• associate
• gang up
• regather
• remeet

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• disperse
• disband
• split (up)
• depart
• leave
• break up
• take off
• dissociate
• disunite
• disjoin

Synonym Chooser

How is the word convene different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of convene are call, cite, convoke, muster, and summon. While all these words mean "to demand the presence of," convene is somewhat less formal than convoke.

convened the students

How are the words call and summon related as synonyms of convene?

Call may be used less formally for summon.

called the legislature into special session

When is it sensible to use cite instead of convene?

The words cite and convene can be used in similar contexts, but cite implies a summoning to court usually to answer a charge.

cited for drunken driving

Where would convoke be a reasonable alternative to convene?

The meanings of convoke and convene largely overlap; however, convoke implies a summons to assemble for deliberative or legislative purposes.

convoked a Vatican council

When would muster be a good substitute for convene?

Although the words muster and convene have much in common, 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

In what contexts can summon take the place of convene?

In some situations, the words summon and convene are roughly equivalent. However, summon implies the exercise of authority.

was summoned to answer charges

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of convene

Instead of convening advisory committees, Makary brought together rubber stamp panels to endorse the administration’s agenda. —Joshua M. Sharfstein, STAT, 16 May 2026

Powell quickly convened his central bank colleagues for two rare emergency meetings in March 2020 to slash interest rates to near-zero and inject liquidity into the financial system through a lending program. —Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 15 May 2026

But before all that, before the 48 teams convene in North America and billions of viewers tune in, three teams from three different corners of the globe met here in March for the FIFA World Cup 2026 Play-Off Tournament. —Franklin Leonard, Vanity Fair, 14 May 2026

The red-carpet welcome continued on Thursday morning with a ceremony outside the Great Hall of the People, a sprawling state building west of Tiananmen Square where China's rubber-stamp legislature convenes once a year. —Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2026