convene
Americanverb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
-
to cause to assemble; convoke.
-
to summon to appear, as before a judicial officer.
verb
-
to gather, call together, or summon, esp for a formal meeting
-
(tr) to order to appear before a court of law, judge, tribunal, etc
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of convene
1400–50; late Middle English < Latin convenīre to come together, equivalent to con- con- + venīre to come
Explanation
The verb convene is a somewhat formal way of saying "to bring together for the purpose of a meeting." Convene is one of those words that lend an air of formality to a situation. We use it in place of the words "call a meeting" for such situations as government assemblages, court hearings, and conferences. Its meaning can be easily seen in its history — it comes from the Latin con-, which means "together," and the verb venīre, "to come." Imagine, if the syllables had just fit the music, the Beatles song "Come Together," might have been called "Convene."
Vocabulary lists containing convene
"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, Chapters 16–19
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
com-, con-
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
This Week in Words: April 14 - 20, 2018
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to convene his security cabinet Sunday night to discuss Iran, a person familiar with the matter said.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 24, 2026
In these volunteer-run gatherings, people convene — in libraries, places of worship and independent living communities — for tea and snacks to discuss their mortality in an informal, supportive setting.
From MarketWatch • May 19, 2026
A text message told attendees to expect a more subdued affair described as “a gathering for people who wanted to convene, eat and drink and be with community.”
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 26, 2026
When the committee did convene, it read her resignation letter and adjourned.
From BBC • Apr. 21, 2026
He probably would have eaten more, but Reyna announced that the senate would now convene in the city, and all the folks in togas got up to leave.
From "The Son of Neptune" by Rick Riordan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
