convene

[ kuhn-veen ]

verb (used without object)

, con·vened, con·ven·ing.

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

   Synonyms: gather, collect, meet, congregate

verb (used with object)

, con·vened, con·ven·ing.

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 Words From

• con·vena·ble adjective
• con·vena·bly adverb
• con·vener con·venor noun
• recon·vene verb reconvened reconvening
• uncon·vena·ble adjective
• uncon·vened adjective
• uncon·vening 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 D.A.’s office will convene a committee to determine whether to pursue the death penalty.

From Los Angeles Times

BBBofC general secretary Robert Smith said Benn was provisionally barred from participating in any capacity in a competition organised, convened, authorised or recognised by his organisation.

From BBC

Jones used his status to try to stem the violence in the hip-hop world, convening the Quincy Jones Hip-Hop Symposium in 1995, where he addressed a room full of the nation's rap stars.

From BBC

Forums convened for the purpose of sharing and managing feelings of election anxiety have cropped up across the country over the past few weeks.

From Los Angeles Times

Japan's parliament now has 30 days to convene and choose a prime minister.

From BBC

Related Words

• assemble
• gather
• open
• summon