convene

[kuhn-veen]

verb (used without object)

convened, convening 

1. to come together or assemble, usually for some public purpose.

   Synonyms: gather, collect, meet, congregate

verb (used with object)

convened, convening 

1. to cause to assemble; convoke.

2. to summon to appear, as before a judicial officer.

convene

/ kənˈviːn /

verb

1. to gather, call together, or summon, esp for a formal meeting

2. (tr) to order to appear before a court of law, judge, tribunal, etc

Other Word Forms

• convenable adjective
• convenably adverb
• convener noun
• convenor noun
• reconvene verb
• unconvenable adjective
• unconvened adjective
• unconvening adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of convene¹

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin convenīre to come together, equivalent to con- con- + venīre to come

Word History and Origins

Origin of convene¹

C15: from Latin convenīre to assemble, from venīre to come

Example Sentences

The 23-year-old and two friends convened for a routine video call in November and agreed to make gifts for one another to keep a lid on spending.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

At the end of the day, the women from Ohio made their way back to Union Station, convening in the basement food court to wait for the bus.

Read more on Salon

BERLIN—A dozen senior German officers convened at a triangle-shaped military compound in Berlin about 2½ years ago to work on a secret plan for a war with Russia.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Prosecutors may convene an investigative grand jury to subpoena witnesses and compel other evidence, including videos.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

On Tuesday a meeting of the so-called "coalition of the willing" chaired by France and the UK was convened to discuss security guarantees.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• assemble 
• gather 
• open 
• summon