convene
/kənˈviːn/To officially call people together for a meeting or formal gathering. It can also mean for a group to come together for an official purpose.
- The committee will convene on Friday to review the proposals.
- The UN Security Council convened an emergency session last night.
- Parliament convenes every year in January.
Adinary Nuance
Convene sits in a cluster with meet, gather, assemble, and summon — but it is the most formal of the group. You would say a study group meets, a crowd gathers, and soldiers assemble, but a parliament, court, or committee convenes. The key difference is authority: "convene" almost always implies that someone with official power is calling the group together for a structured purpose. In IELTS and academic writing, "convene" signals institutional weight — using "meet" in its place would sound too casual and may cost you register marks.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- Triệu tập
- Spanish
- Convocar
- Chinese
- 召集
- Japanese
- 召集する
- Korean
- 소집하다
Etymology
From Latin "convenire," meaning "to come together," formed from "con-" (together) and "venire" (to come). The word entered English in the 15th century through Old French and has retained its formal sense ever since.
Common phrases
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is 'convene' formal or informal?
- It is clearly formal. You would use it in academic writing, legal contexts, or official reports — not in casual conversation. Saying 'let's convene' in everyday speech would sound stiff or humorous.
- What is the difference between 'convene' and 'meet'?
- 'Meet' is neutral and works in any situation. 'Convene' implies an official body (a court, committee, parliament) coming together for a formal and structured purpose. In IELTS or academic essays, 'convene' carries more weight and precision.
- Can 'convene' be used without an object?
- Yes. You can say 'The board convenes tomorrow' (intransitive) or 'The chair will convene the board tomorrow' (transitive). Both forms are correct.
- Is 'convene' common in IELTS writing?
- Yes, it appears in academic and formal contexts, especially in topics about government, law, international relations, and organisations. Using it correctly in Task 1 or Task 2 can demonstrate a strong formal vocabulary range.