Convoking a Crisis Response: The Power of Summoning a Meeting
Explore the meaning and importance of the word ‘convoke’ as the president of a country faces a national crisis. Learn how to use this formal and official term correctly, and understand its historical roots and common usage in various contexts.
Imagine you’re the president of a country facing a national crisis. What’s the first thing you do? You convoke an emergency meeting of your cabinet.
But what exactly does convoke mean, and why is it an important word to know for the GRE? Let’s find out.
Word type: Convoke is a verb.
Meaning: To convoke means to call together or summon to a meeting. It’s often used in formal or official contexts, particularly when gathering people for an important assembly or conference.
Word history: The word convoke has its roots in Latin. It comes from the Latin word convocare, which is formed by combining con meaning together and vocare meaning to call.
So literally, it means to call together.
Antonyms: Some antonyms of convoke include dismiss, disband, or adjourn.
These words represent the opposite action of calling a meeting together.
Synonyms: Synonyms for convoke include summon, assemble, gather, or call together.
These words all share the idea of bringing people together for a specific purpose.
Examples use in sentences:
The university president convoked a special meeting of the faculty to discuss the new curriculum changes.
In times of war, the United Nations Security Council may convoke an emergency session to address the crisis.
The board of directors was convoked to vote on the proposed merger with their main competitor. Common errors in use: One common mistake is confusing convoke with invoke.
While convoke means to call a meeting, invoke means to call upon or appeal to something, like a law, authority, or deity.
Another error is using convoke in casual situations where it might sound overly formal. Remember, convoke is typically reserved for official or important gatherings.
Now that you understand the meaning and usage of convoke, you’ll be able to recognize it in your GRE prep materials and use it correctly in your own writing.
Whether you’re describing historical events, political processes, or formal business procedures, convoke is a powerful word to have in your vocabulary arsenal.
So the next time you need to gather an important group, remember you’re not just calling a meeting you’re convoking one.
