Definition of convenenext

Synonym Chooser

How is the word convene different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of convene are call, cite, convoke, muster, and summon. While all these words mean "to demand the presence of," convene is somewhat less formal than convoke.

convened the students

How are the words call and summon related as synonyms of convene?

Call may be used less formally for summon.

called the legislature into special session

When is it sensible to use cite instead of convene?

The words cite and convene can be used in similar contexts, but cite implies a summoning to court usually to answer a charge.

cited for drunken driving

Where would convoke be a reasonable alternative to convene?

The meanings of convoke and convene largely overlap; however, convoke implies a summons to assemble for deliberative or legislative purposes.

convoked a Vatican council

When would muster be a good substitute for convene?

Although the words muster and convene have much in common, muster suggests a calling up of a number of things that form a group in order that they may be exhibited, displayed, or utilized as a whole.

mustered the troops

In what contexts can summon take the place of convene?

In some situations, the words summon and convene are roughly equivalent. However, summon implies the exercise of authority.

was summoned to answer charges

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of convene CollectorX convened a one-of-a-kind event designed to unite art collectors, curators, advisors, and museum trustees of color with a particular focus on art from the Diaspora. Doug Melville, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026 The meetings were first convened in November 2023 by LucasFilm pioneer Kathleen Kennedy and American Film Institute dean Susan Ruskin. Corbin Bolies, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026 In 1998 Boulder County District Attorney Alex Hunter convened a grand jury to look into the murder. Encyclopedia Britannica, 20 Aug. 2026 The facility is expected to convene world-class research conferences, workshops and innovation forums in Boise. Shannon Tyler, Idaho Statesman, 20 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for convene
Recent Examples of Synonyms for convene
Verb
  • Roy Clark could show up at Felix and Oscar’s New York apartment in The Odd Couple to demonstrate his virtuoso pickin’ skills and be summoned to Burbank to sub in for Johnny Carson as a guest host of The Tonight Show.
    David Kamp, HollywoodReporter, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Reliever Jason Foley allowed the Reds to load the bases on three singles, prompting Tingler to summon Ryan Walker.
    Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 26 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The feeds then went to the pets as the houseguests were set to gather at the dining room table time machine.
    Christopher Kuhagen, jsonline.com, 30 Aug. 2026
  • King’s eyes gather the world’s hodgepodge, and her hand records with a sensitivity that can come only from fondness.
    Laura Preston, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • All his administration mustered was a late, failed effort in the summer of 2020 to remove 12,000 troops from Germany.
    JENNIFER KAVANAGH, Foreign Affairs, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Josh Lowe hit a sacrifice fly, and Gustavo Campero added an RBI single, but that was all the offense the Angels mustered.
    ABC News, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Lake Zurich and Antioch met twice last season, including in a second-round playoff game.
    Mike McGraw, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Big picture The league and the union are meeting regularly on various topics, but their disagreement on core economics — whether to move to a cap system — leaves little room for progress on the major issues.
    Evan Drellich, New York Times, 28 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Autumn Joy Stonecrop Also called autumn joy sedum, this hardy, summer- and fall-flowering perennial is known for its succulent foliage and dense clusters of tiny pink flowers.
    Alexandra Jones, The Spruce, 30 Aug. 2026
  • The Cyberdyne Hybrid Assistive Limb, commonly called HAL, is a robotic exoskeleton designed to support patients during rehabilitation.
    Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • But detectives were able to create a montage from nearby traffic and surveillance cameras that showed both Sellars and Wathrust converging on the spot — Sellars walking and Walthrust driving — where Wathrust was found shot multiple times in his car.
    Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Fans will converge in downtown Atlanta to experience the convention’s 40th year of celebrating science fiction, fantasy, gaming, comics, literature, art, music and film.
    Olivia Wakim, AJC.com, 25 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • This does, however, seem to be another case of the Netflix name being able to assemble and pay a big-name cast for relatively lackluster results.
    Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Engineers have assembled a prototype air-cooling rig to test the passive safety systems.
    Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 29 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • According to Treasury, fishing vessels secretly rendezvoused at sea with smaller go-fast boats carrying cocaine north through the eastern Pacific.
    Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Demonstrating future capabilities The mission team is forging ahead with its plan for LINK to rendezvous with Swift — but as a demonstration rather than a rescue.
    Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Convene.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/convene. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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