Meaning & use
converge
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Meanings
verbintransitive
To move toward one place from different directions and meet there, or to join together at a point.
Grammar: No object; usually followed by on or at: crowds converge on the square.
Patterns
- converge on something
- converge at something
- converge with something
Hundreds of fans converged on the stadium before the match.
The two rivers converge just north of the town.
Lines of traffic converge at the main intersection.
verbintransitive
To become more alike or reach the same result over time, as ideas, trends, or systems do.
Grammar: No object; often followed by on or toward: opinions converged on a plan.
Patterns
- converge on something
- converge toward something
Experts' views gradually converged on one explanation.
Phone and camera technologies have converged over the years.
The two parties' policies began to converge.
verbintransitivemathematics
In mathematics, to approach a fixed value or limit as a series or sequence continues.
Grammar: No object; used with to: the series converges to one.
Patterns
- converge to something
The series converges to two as more terms are added.
The calculation converges quickly.
Not every sequence converges.
Word forms
| third person singular | converges |
|---|---|
| past tense | converged |
| past participle | converged |
| -ing form | converging |
Common combinations
- converge on
- Rescue teams converged on the crash site.
- converge at a point
- The roads converge at a single point.
- views converge
- The scientists' views slowly converged.
- converge from all directions
- Fans converged from all directions.
- interests converge
- Their interests converge in the field of design.
Synonyms and how they differ
- meet
- Meet is a plain word for coming together, but converge stresses coming from different directions.
- gather
- Gather means to come together in a group, without the idea of different paths.
- merge
- Merge means to blend into one, whereas converge may just approach or meet.
- close in
- Close in suggests moving toward a target from several sides, often with menace.
Opposites
Word family
- convergence noun
- the act of coming together
- convergent adjective
- tending to come together
- converging adjective
- coming together from different directions
- divergence noun
- the act of moving apart
Commonly confused: converge or diverge? converge or converse?
converge vs diverge
Diverge is the opposite: to split apart from a common point.
converge vs converse
Converse can mean to talk, or opposite, and is not related to coming together.
Practice
The three highways ____ near the airport.
Choose one answer.
Converge means to meet at a point. Diverge is the opposite, and deviate and depart would not describe roads joining.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “converge”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.