convoke
Americanverb (used with object)
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convokes,
present (3rd person singular)
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convoked,
past participle, past
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convoking
present participle
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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convokesimple
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convokessimple
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have convokedperfect
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has convokedperfect
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am convokingprogressive
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are convokingprogressive
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is convokingprogressive
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have been convokingperfect progressive
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has been convokingperfect progressive
Past
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convokedsimple
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had convokedperfect
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was convokingprogressive
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were convokingprogressive
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had been convokingperfect progressive
Future
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.
Vocabulary lists containing convoke
John F. Kennedy's Address to the American People on the Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)
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Second Treatise of Government
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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.
See Examples For:
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
Poujade promises that at the opportune time, his Deputies will rise up and demand that the National Assembly convoke a modern States-General, with four "estates": shopkeepers and other tradesmen; farmers; employees; the academic class.
From Time Magazine Archive
Instead, he joined with the bishop of Sinopolis to convoke the religious orders, planning that they demand that he be not banished.
Francis turns 87 in December and whether he convokes another consistory next year or in 2025 depends on how long he lives.
From Reuters ● Sep. 30, 2023
He is the supreme authority of the state and commander in chief of the armed forces, concludes treaties and declares war, convokes and dissolves Parliament and appoints and dismisses ministers.
From Time Magazine Archive
Properly, then, President Arthur convokes, not convenes, the Senate.
From The Verbalist A Manual Devoted to Brief Discussions of the Right and the Wrong Use of Words and to Some Other Matters of Interest to Those Who Would Speak and Write with Propriety. by Thomas Embly Osmun
The Committee wanted to sign en masse, and slightly modified the text, saying, "The Central Committee, round which the deputies of Paris, the mayors, and adjuncts have rallied, convokes...."
From History of the Commune of 1871 by P. Lissagary
He convokes, prorogues and dissolves the chamber, sanctions laws, exercises the right of pardon in case of political offences, represents the island in its foreign relations and is chief of its military forces.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 6 "Coucy-le-Château" to "Crocodile" by Various
Usually ambassadors are convoked by the Secretariat of State.
From Reuters ● Feb. 25, 2022
The pope convoked all Chilean bishops to Rome for days of intense meetings, at the conclusion of which all 34 offered their resignation, a first.
From New York Times ● May 21, 2018
“It is very important that an extraordinary Synod has been convoked on the theme of the pastoral of the family,” Vatican spokesperson Fr.
From Time ● Oct. 8, 2013
I have convoked you to this Consistory, not only for the three canonizations, but also to communicate to you a decision of great importance for the life of the Church.
From Washington Post ● Feb. 11, 2013
Philip forbade the publication of these bulls; and the states general being again convoked appealed to a council against the pope.
From Secret Societies of the Middle Ages by Thomas Keightley
Meanwhile, American officials at United Nations headquarters discussed with other Western diplomats the possibility of convoking an urgent session of the Security Council.
From Time Magazine Archive
President Hoover, in convoking the Commission in May, sedulously avoided specific mention of Prohibition as an object for scrutiny.
From Time Magazine Archive
"I am sure," sneered M. Blum, "that if you had been able to do so you would have promulgated your budget by decree instead of convoking the Chamber!"
From Time Magazine Archive
The nature of the document was a royal decree convoking a National Assembly.
From Time Magazine Archive
A “primus” was to be chosen indifferently from the bishops, but to have no other powers than those of convoking and presiding over synods.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 2 "Camorra" to "Cape Colony" by Various
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