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
- convenable adjective
- convenably adverb
- convener noun
- convenor noun
- reconvene verb
- unconvenable adjective
- unconvened adjective
- unconvening adjective
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
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com-, con-
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This Week in Words: April 14 - 20, 2018
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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.
Cherfilus-McCormick resigned minutes before the House ethics committee was to convene and make a recommendation on the punishment for the 25 violations of House rules and ethical standards, the committee determined she committed.
From BBC • Apr. 21, 2026
She says she has “asked the deans to convene students and faculty to establish classroom principles that foster intellectual openness.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 19, 2026
The bill now awaits passage in the House of Representatives where Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said he will convene representatives to decide next steps.
From Salon • Mar. 27, 2026
Top economic officials from the United States and China are set to convene in Paris, the Treasury Department said Thursday, less than three weeks before President Donald Trump's expected summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
From Barron's • Mar. 12, 2026
The belief that people should convene to help one another was valued in my family.
From "Reaching for the Moon" by Katherine Johnson
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.
