Convoke
/kənˈvoʊk/
verbC1
Definition
Convoke means to bring people together by an official or formal invitation, usually for a meeting, discussion, or assembly. It is often used when a group of people, like leaders or members of an organization, are called to meet and talk about important matters.
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See It in Action
To officially call together people for a meeting or assembly
- •The president convoked the parliament to discuss the new law.
- •The committee was convoked to decide on the budget.
- •The university convokes all faculty members for the annual meeting.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "convoke" like "call" (A1 word), but more formal and official, like a boss or leader asking everyone to come together
- ✓Picture a school principal ringing a bell to gather all students into the hall for an important meeting
- ✓It’s the feeling when you hear an announcement telling you to come to a special meeting that needs your attention
- ✓Sounds like "con-VOKE" → imagine someone using a loud voice (voke sounds like "voke" in "invoke") to gather people quickly
- ✓Think of a king or president summoning their council to discuss serious issues
- ✓NOT like "invite" (friendly and casual), convoke is official and often urgent or necessary
- ✓NOT like "gather" (can be informal or casual), convoke is formal and usually planned by authority
Try Other Words
- •Summon: to order someone to come (Use when the meeting is urgent or has authority behind it)
- •Assemble: to bring people together (Use when focusing on the group coming together, less on the official invitation)
- •Call together: to ask people to meet (Use in more general or informal contexts)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: prefix "con-" (together) + root "voke" (from Latin "vocare," meaning to call)
- •Etymology: From Latin "convocare," meaning to call together
- •Historical development: Used since Middle English from Latin roots, often in formal or legal contexts
- •Modern usage: Common in formal writing or speech when referring to official meetings or gatherings
- •Key insight: The word focuses on the action of officially inviting or ordering people to come together
Reflect & Connect
•In what situations would you expect someone to convoke a meeting instead of just inviting people?
•How does the formality of the word convoke change the way you think about the meeting or event?
Fill in the blanks
1.The manager convoked the team ___ discuss the urgent project deadline.
2.When a serious problem arises, leaders often convoke a meeting ___ find a solution quickly.
3.Unlike a casual invitation, to convoke means the meeting is ___ and important.
4.The board was convoked ___ the new company policies to be reviewed and approved.
5.To convoke a group usually means the person has ___ or official power to call the meeting.
6.When the president convokes the parliament, it signals that ___ important decisions will be made.
7.People who are convoked to a meeting are expected to ___ and participate fully.