convoke

American  

[kuhn-vohk] / kənˈvoʊk /

verb (used with object)

convoked, convoking

1. to call together; summon to meet or assemble.

   The president plans to convoke an international summit to address the global climate crisis.

   Synonyms:

   convene

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convoke British  

/ kənˈvɒkətɪv, kənˈvəʊk /

verb

1. (tr) to call (a meeting, assembly, etc) together; summon

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Other Word Forms

• convocant noun
• convocative adjective
• convoker noun

Etymology

Origin of convoke

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Middle French convoquer, from Latin convocāre, from con- con- + vocāre “to call”

Explanation

To convoke is to call to a meeting, especially a formal meeting. When planning military strategy, a nation's leader might convoke her trusted advisors and top generals. Convoke emerged in the 14th century, from the Latin word convocare — "to call together;" the definition stands today unchanged. Use convoke when you are speaking of people or a group being summoned for an official gathering, like the kind the government or a large organization holds.

Example Sentences

That would ease passage of some of Castro's legislative priorities, but her pledge to convoke an assembly to rewrite the country's constitution could still be blocked since that would require a two-thirds majority.

From Reuters • Dec. 1, 2021

Fernandez currently has a working majority in both houses of Congress, but would need two-thirds' congressional support to convoke an elected constitutional assembly.

From Reuters • Oct. 18, 2012

Messori explained that if a Pope decided he was no longer capable of leading the Church, he would convoke a Consistory of all the world's cardinals at the Vatican.

From Time • Jan. 27, 2010

Venezuela seemed ready to convoke its Congress, declare war.

From Time Magazine Archive

A widespread agitation arose, amounting to actual anarchy, and was only ended by the recall of Necker to power and the promise to convoke the states general for 1789.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 10, Slice 8 "France" to "Francis Joseph I." by Various