convene
C1Formal, Neutral
Definition
Meaning
To bring people together for a formal meeting or gathering.
To come together for a meeting; to cause something, especially a meeting or assembly, to begin or take place.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies a deliberate, often formal or official, act of gathering. Usually refers to people (committees, boards, groups) but can extend to abstract gatherings (like summoning thoughts or memories).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major differences in meaning or usage. Both use it primarily in formal contexts (government, law, business, academia).
Connotations
Associated with authority, procedure, and formality in both dialects.
Frequency
Equally frequent in formal registers on both sides of the Atlantic.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[someone] convenes [something] (e.g., The chair convened the meeting)[something] convenes (e.g., The committee convenes at 9 AM)convene [someone] to do [something] (e.g., They convened the panel to review the policy)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No common idioms directly use 'convene'.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
The CEO convened the board of directors for an emergency strategy session.
Academic
The scholar convened an international symposium on climate ethics.
Everyday
Let's convene at the usual café to plan the trip.
Technical
The chair has the authority to convene a disciplinary hearing.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The council will convene next Thursday to discuss the planning application.
- The headteacher convened a special staff meeting to address the issue.
American English
- Congress is scheduled to convene in January.
- The governor convened a task force to address the crisis.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The class will convene in room 5.
- We convened at the park.
- The manager convened a team meeting for Friday.
- The club convenes once a month.
- The UN Security Council was hastily convened to address the crisis.
- The committee convenes annually to review its policies.
- The arbitrators convened in camera to deliberate on the final award.
- The founding members convened a constitutional convention to draft the new charter.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a VENUE (sounds like 'vene') where people COME together (CON-). To CONVENE is to COME together at a VENUE.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMING TOGETHER IS ASSEMBLING FOR A PURPOSE.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'convert' (конвертировать).
- Do not translate as 'discuss' or 'negotiate' (обсуждать, вести переговоры). 'Convene' focuses on the act of gathering, not the discussion itself.
- Not a direct synonym for 'organize' (организовывать). You can convene a meeting you have organized.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'He convened about the new project.' (Missing object) Correct: 'He convened a meeting about the new project.'
- Incorrect: 'The meeting was convening at 10.' (Awkward passive progressive; 'scheduled to convene' or 'was convened' is better)
- Spelling confusion: 'conveen', 'convean'.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the LEAST likely context for the verb 'convene'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is possible but unusual. 'Convene' carries a formal or official tone. For informal gatherings, 'meet up', 'get together', or simply 'meet' are more natural.
The related noun is 'convener' (the person who convenes) or 'convening'. The act itself is a 'convocation'.
It can be both. Transitive: 'She convened the council.' Intransitive: 'The council convenes tomorrow.'
They are close synonyms. 'Convene' often implies a formal meeting called by authority. 'Assemble' is broader and can refer to any group coming together, often physically in one place.