Dictionary.com

beckon

[ bek-uhn ]
/ ˈbɛk ən /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR beckon ON THESAURUS.COM

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.

QUIZZES

BEAT THE DOLDRUMS WITH THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ!

We know you’ll tackle this quiz totis viribus! See how many words from the week of Oct 12–18, 2020 you get right!
Question 1 of 7
What does “Indigenous” mean?
characterized by cleverness or originality of invention or construction.
carried on abroad, or with other countries.
relating to or being a people who are the original, earliest known inhabitants of a region, or are their descendants.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of beckon

before 950; Middle English beknen,Old English gebē(a)cnian, derivative of bēacenbeacon

OTHER WORDS FROM beckon

beck·on·er, nounbeck·on·ing·ly, adverbun·beck·oned, adjective

Words nearby beckon

Beckford, Beckham, Beckley, Beckmann, Becknell, beckon, Beck's triad, Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome, Becky, Béclard's hernia, beclasp
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to beckon

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

Example sentences from the Web for beckon

British Dictionary definitions for beckon

beckon
/ (ˈbɛkən) /

verb

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

noun

a summoning gesture

Derived forms of beckon

beckoner, 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