convergence

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable or uncountable

   The process of separate things moving toward each other until they meet or become alike.

   Grammar: Often followed by of or between: the convergence of two roads.

   Patterns

   • a convergence of things
   • convergence between things

   The convergence of the two rivers creates a wide lake.

   There is growing convergence between the two parties' policies.

   The convergence of ideas made the project possible.

2. 2noununcountabletechnicalbusiness

   The merging of different technologies or industries into one, such as phones, cameras and computers.

   Grammar: Used in business and technology: media convergence.

   Patterns

   • convergence of technologies

   Media convergence lets one device play video, music and games.

   The convergence of telecoms and entertainment changed the industry.

   Convergence has blurred the line between phones and computers.

3. 3noununcountablemathematicstechnical

   In mathematics, the tendency of a sequence or series to approach a fixed value.

   Grammar: A technical sense used with series and sequences.

   Patterns

   • convergence of a series

   The test shows the convergence of the series.

   Students proved convergence to zero.

   Fast convergence saves computing time.

Word forms

Common combinations

point of convergence

The town lies at the point of convergence of three highways.

convergence of interests

A convergence of interests brought the rivals together.

economic convergence

Economic convergence helps poorer regions catch up.

convergence zone

Storms often form along a convergence zone.

growing convergence

There is growing convergence on the need for reform.

Synonyms and how they differ

merging

Merging means joining into one and sounds less technical than convergence.

meeting

Meeting is plain and does not suggest gradual approach.

union

Union stresses the joined result rather than the process of coming together.

confluence

Confluence often describes rivers or streams joining and sounds more literary.

Opposites

Word family

converge verb

to come together at a point

convergent adjective

moving toward each other

divergence noun

moving apart

diverge verb

to separate and go different ways

Commonly confused: convergence or conversion?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “convergence”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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