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definitions

beckon

[bek-uhn]
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verb (used with or without object)

to signal, summon, or direct by a gesture of the head or hand.
to lure; entice.

noun

a nod, gesture, etc., that signals, directs, summons, indicates agreement, or the like.

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RELATED WORDS

attract, invite, entice, tempt, pull, draw, coax, nod, wave, summon, motion, allure, command, demand, ask, gesticulate, sign, bid, gesture

Nearby words

  1. beckham,
  2. beckley,
  3. beckmann,
  4. beckmann, max,
  5. becknell,
  6. beckwith-wiedemann syndrome,
  7. becky,
  8. beclasp,
  9. beclomethasone,
  10. becloud

Origin of beckon

before 950; Middle English beknen, Old English gebē(a)cnian, derivative of bēacen beacon
Related formsbeck·on·er, nounbeck·on·ing·ly, adverbun·beck·oned, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for beckon

British Dictionary definitions for beckon

beckon

verb

to summon with a gesture of the hand or head
to entice or lure

noun

a summoning gesture
Derived Formsbeckoner, nounbeckoning, adjective, noun

Word Origin for beckon

Old English bīecnan, from bēacen sign; related to Old Saxon bōknian; see beacon
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
Word Origin and History for beckon

beckon

v.

Old English gebecnian (West Saxon beacnian) "to make a mute sign," derivative of beacen "a sign, beacon," from Proto-Germanic *bauknjan (cf. Old Saxon boknian, Old High German bouhnen), from PIE root *bha- "to shine" (see beacon). Related: Beckoned; beckoning. The noun is attested from 1718, from the verb.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper