What does reconvened mean?
Reconvened is the past tense and past participle of reconvene, meaning to gather or meet again. The word is especially common in formal institutional settings such as courts, committees, parliaments, and conferences, where a session may end temporarily and later resume. When used transitively, as in “the chair reconvened the committee,” it means to call the group back together; when used intransitively, as in “the committee reconvened at noon,” it means the members met again. The prefix re- adds the sense of repetition to convene, a word meaning to call or bring people together. Although “reconvened” can describe any second or later gathering, it is particularly associated with organized proceedings that formally adjourn before continuing.
verbTo meet or gather again, especially after a break or adjournment.
- To meet or gather again, especially after an interruption, adjournment, or break.
"The committee reconvened the following morning to review the proposals."
"The jury reconvened to consider the case after a short recess."
"Parliament reconvened in the autumn to continue its debate."
After a meeting is adjourned, reconvening brings the same group back together for a second session.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does reconvened come from?
Reconvened derives from reconvene, formed by combining re-, meaning “again,” with convene. Convene comes through French from Latin convenire, a compound of com- and venire, meaning “to come together.” Related words include convention, conventional, and convoy, which preserve different developments of the same Latin root.
Related word forms
How reconvened is actually used
Common in formal and institutional contexts, especially in reference to meetings, committees, courts, and legislative bodies. It is usually transitive when it means to call a group together again and intransitive when it means the group meets again.
Easily confused with reconvened
To reconvene means to meet again after a break, whereas to convene means to call people together, often for the first time.