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Synonyms

beck

1 American  
[bek] / bɛk /

noun

  1. a gesture used to signal, summon, or direct someone.

  2. Chiefly Scot. a bow or curtsy of greeting.

verb (used with or without object)

  1. Archaic. beckon.

idioms

  1. at someone's beck and call, ready to do someone's bidding; subject to someone's slightest wish.

    He has three servants at his beck and call.
beck 2 American  
[bek] / bɛk /

noun

North England.

  1. a brook, especially a swiftly running stream with steep banks.

beck 3 American  
[bek] / bɛk /

verb (used with object)

Metalworking.

  1. to form (a billet or the like) into a tire or hoop by rolling or hammering on a mandrel or anvil.

Beck 4 American  
[bek] / bɛk /

noun

  1. Dave, 1894–1993, U.S. labor leader: president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters 1952–57.

beck 1 British  
/ bɛk /

noun

  1. a nod, wave, or other gesture or signal

  2. ready to obey someone's orders instantly; subject to someone's slightest whim

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
beck 2 British  
/ bɛk /

noun

  1. (in N England) a stream, esp a swiftly flowing one

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
beck More Idioms  

  1. see at someone's beck and call.

Etymology

Origin of beck1

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English verb bekken, bec, variant of beckenen, bek(e)nen beckon; noun derivative of the verb

Origin of beck2

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English bek, bec(k), from Scandinavian; compare Old Norse bekkr; akin to Old English bæc, bec, bece, Dutch beek, German Bach “brook”

Origin of beck3

First recorded in 1830–35 as beck-iron; verb use of the noun beck, shortening of beck-iron, a variant of bick-iron

Vocabulary lists containing beck

"The Tragedy of Hamlet," Vocabulary from Act 3

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

And as you imply, the new chairman of the Fed will have hundreds of Ph.D.s at his beck and call for whatever studies he may desire.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 8, 2026

If they want nutrition advice, wellness coaching, or help with complex medical issues, she’s at their beck and call.

From Barron's • Nov. 12, 2025

As a result, voles have now appeared all along the beck, including at Hull Road Park, which lies close to an urban area.

From BBC • Aug. 21, 2024

“You can control traffic, you can control lighting. All of the equipment is at your beck and call.”

From Los Angeles Times • May 17, 2024

In the first place, why should some strangers down the road be at our beck and call?”

From "Franny and Zooey" by J. D. Salinger

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.