Jump To:

• beck
  beck

  noun

  a gesture used to signal, summon, or direct someone.
• Beck
  Beck

  noun

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

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

---

beck ² British  

/ bɛk /

noun

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

---

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

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

beck Beck

That’s their job, to just be there, to be there at the beck and call of Palisadians.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 20, 2026

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

For one day, my legs would be my own, not at the beck and call of others.

From "Chains" by Laurie Halse Anderson

Both of those steps should be completed this year, allowing Rocket Lab to assemble and test its complete stage-one tank in the first quarter of 2027, Beck said.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 15, 2026

Attorney Marina Z. Beck in her declaration accused Martinez of refusing to provide information to Berry about their son and his education, of interfering with their son’s therapy and of refusing to follow therapist recommendations.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026

Marina Beck, an attorney for the 60-year-old “Catwoman” and “John Wick: Chapter 3” star, in a statement downplayed Martinez’s protective order, granted Thursday by a Los Angeles Superior Court judge.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 2, 2026

That doesn’t concern Beck too much, who says she averages $6,000 a month with UGC and makes additional income helping run an online creator academy.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 20, 2026

The son of a career Air Force officer, Beck had spent his childhood shuttling from one military base to another before landing in Wichita Falls to attend college.

From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---

Related Words

• current
• flood
• flow
• rush
• spate
• surge
• tide
• torrent
• tributary

---