# convergence

/kənˈvɝdʒəns/ (US) · /kənvˈɜːdʒəns/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/convergence
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. coming together

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic

the act of different things moving toward each other to meet at one point.

For teachers: the act of moving toward union or a common point of intersection.

- The convergence of the two rivers created a powerful current.
- The geographic convergence of these three trade routes turned the small village into a bustling commercial hub within a decade.

### 2. technology/media

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

when different types of technology, like phones and cameras, join together into one device.

For teachers: the merging of distinct technologies, industries, or devices into a unified whole or platform.

- Smartphones are a great example of the convergence of cameras, phones, and computers.
- Digital convergence has fundamentally altered the media landscape, blurring the lines between traditional broadcasting and internet-based streaming services.

### 3. biology

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

when different animals develop similar features because they live in similar environments.

For teachers: the independent evolution of similar structures or traits in unrelated species due to similar environmental pressures.

- The wings of bats and birds are a result of evolutionary convergence.
- Biologists cite the streamlined bodies of sharks and dolphins as a classic instance of convergence in aquatic environments.

### 4. mathematics

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

when a sequence of numbers gets closer and closer to a specific value.

For teachers: the property of an infinite series or sequence approaching a definite limiting value.

- The teacher explained the convergence of the series as the numbers got smaller.
- The mathematician spent months proving the convergence of the algorithm under specific boundary conditions.

### 5. economics

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic

the idea that poorer countries' economies will eventually catch up to richer ones.

For teachers: the hypothesis that per capita incomes in poorer economies tend to grow at faster rates than in richer economies.

- Economic convergence suggests that developing nations will eventually reach the same living standards as wealthy ones.
- The report analyzed whether regional convergence was actually occurring within the European Union or if the wealth gap was widening.

### 6. vision

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

the way your eyes move together to look at something close to you.

For teachers: the coordinated inward turning of the eyes to focus on a nearby object.

- Reading for a long time can cause eye strain because of constant convergence.
- The optometrist performed a series of tests to evaluate the patient's near-point convergence and binocular coordination.

## Examples

- The convergence of the two rivers creates a wide delta.
- The convergence of their opinions made the final decision much easier for the team.
- Technological convergence allows a single device to function as a phone, camera, and computer, blurring the lines between distinct industries.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.